Let’s celebrate Father’s. Father’s Day does not get the same overwhelming celebration as Mother’s Day. Fathers have an important role in the family and in the lives of their children. There are many quiet good black fathers and we need to celebrate them.
Let’s celebrate the men in our lives. Celebrate the fathers, brothers, uncles, friends, and sons in your lives. Recognize what the mighty good Father and men in your life mean to you. Take this month, to acknowledge the important role that the fathers, both natural and spiritual, play in the lives of their children; as role models, care givers, providers, protectors, and supporters. Acknowledge how men serve you and the women in their lives as good husbands, providers, protectors, supporters, friends, supporters of equality for women in the work place, and who take out the garbage. Thank God for the father, uncle, brother, who will be there if your car stopped or if your heart has been broken and the myriad of other roles that men play in the lives of women and children.
This month as we celebrate Father’s Day let’s honor and pray for fathers, who may not be perfect, but who love their children, train their children, protect their children and have good relationships with their children. The week prior to Father’s Day I challenge you to share positive comments and reflections about your father, father figures, grandfathers, mentors and committed men. Please share your story and comments.
The admiration Kim Bracey has for her father shines through every time she speaks of him. Kim Bracey will tell you she thought her father was “God” for the longest because he provided for her and was there every time she needed him. When I asked for persons to share stories or to make a comment about their father , Kim proudly stated:
James L. Bracey absolutely one of the best. When God picked out the father for me He just out did Himself. For a long time I thought he was God because he provided for our family with a roof over our heads, food on the table, clothes on our backs and loved us unconditionally. Above all he loved God and God loves him back. All that he has been granted in heaven he so deserved. I miss him like crazy but I thank God for letting me have him as long as I did.
Rene Wallace shared that her over 70 year old father, who has now passed, still talked as if this middle aged daughter was his responsibility. Jeanette Johnson’s father has been dead for over 12 years but she talks about her father frequently with love and respect. Her honor and respect for his wisdom radiates from her heart for this man who only had a third grade education. He was full of wisdom, strength, and integrity and provided for his children and adored his wife. Her father owned land and property and feed neighbors who were poor. When she speaks of him you can hear and feel the respect and honor she has for him. It was touching to hear their comments.
Please share your positive experience with your father and what your relationship means to you.
Please share your positive experience with your father and what your relationship means to you.
Three things you can also do to show your appreciation.
- Brag on the good father and/or man or men in your life all month long not just on Father’s Day. Say “Thank You”. Let him know you appreciate him. Men need encouragement. “We should seize every opportunity to give encouragement. Encouragement is oxygen to the soul.” “A word spoken in due season, how good is it! Proverbs 15:23b.
- Encourage him to get a Check up. Men’s health issues significantly impact everyone around them and far too many men do not ever see a doctor unless there is something seriously wrong or a partner or spouse makes the appointment for them.
A good time to do just that is June, which is Men’s Health Month. Men’s Health Month is intended to increase awareness of preventable health problems and encourage early detection and treatment of disease among men and boys. - Pray for the good father and men in your life. Here are some specific prayer points for men in general and for fathers.
Prayer focuses for fathers in general:
-Salvation
–For fathers identity to be centered in Christ-like servant leadership.-For vision in their lives that would serve family and serve and advance God’s purpose.
-To be the honorable priest and leaders of their homes.
-We call fathers back to their children to love, nurture and teach them.
-That fathers will look to God as the ultimate spiritual head of their homes.
-That absentee fathers would change their lifestyle to nurture their children and wives.
That children will see the character of the heavenly Father in the lives of their dads.
-Fatherless children- that loving and nurturing father figures and mentors will arise in their live.
-Pray for Christian fathers to embrace their God given role as loving guides of their children and to not exasperate them, instead bringing them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. (Eph 6:4)
-Men’s Health- June is Men’s National Health month pray that fathers and men will obtain. prostate cancer and other physical examinations.
-Boys who need father figures ; may they find mentors and father figures.
Linda Fegins, “The Prayer Leader”, 2018, 2016 ldfaygo@gmail.com