Honoring and Praying for Fathers by Linda Fegins
On Radio station 1200 AM, John Mason, of Mason in the Afternoon, was asking for positive reflections and comments about one’s father, grandfather or a father figure. One reflection, by a man who called into the radio station to comment, touched my heart. He stated that his father taught him many things by his actions. He said he learned how to be a father and the protector of his family from his father. “When I was about 7 years old I went “trick or treating” on Halloween with some friends”, said the caller. “ A bigger boy stole our bags. All I could remember was seeing a flash go by and jump the fence. Next thing I knew I had my Halloween bag back. It was my father who jumped that fence. He had been watching and covering me all the time”. That story brought tears to my eyes because the actions of the father symbolized the love the heavenly Father has for us in that he watches over us and protects us. For the now grown caller it taught him how to watch over his family. Another gentleman called in and stated he “learned how to respect women because of how he saw his father respect and treat his mother”.
The week prior to Father’s Day I challenged men and women to share positive comments and reflections about their father. Kimberly Bracey Superintendent of Sunday School, Minetta Hare, entrepreneur and missionary, and Renee Wallace ,known as the Chief Doer and strategist, shared some warm and loving comments about their fathers. Terrence Wilson, author of In Search of a Father wrote More Than A Provider and Bobby Ray Ivory, Jr., success coach and speaker, shared Five Things A Father Should Teach His Children. Author and wife coach, Venus Mason Theus shared how God healed a breached relationship with her father which has resulted in a wonderful daughter father relationship.
Please leave your positive comment and reflections about your father, grandfather, stepdad or father figure.
Prayer for Fathers
Lord in the name of Jesus, we thank you for fathers who love, train, provide for and protect their children. We pray that fathers will look to God as their ultimate spiritual father of their household, serving and caring for their children and families; we pray that absentee fathers would change their mindset and lifestyles to nurture a relationship with their children. We pray that the Lord will turn the hearts of the father toward their children and the hearts of the children toward their fathers. Malachi 4:6. We pray that children will see the godly character of the heavenly Father in the lives of their dads.
Lord we thank you that you are a Father to the fatherless and One who will never leave nor forsake us. Lord raise up fathers in the church and community to love, nurture, instruct and guide those in need of a father’s blessing. Lord turn the hearts of the fathers toward their children and the children toward their fathers. We pray for single fathers who are raising their children without a spouse to share the love and responsibility for their upbringing. Lord we pray about the disintegration of the family unit in our land, and ask God to restore the foundations both in and out of the church. Psalm 68:5-6; Proverbs 17:6 In the name of Jesus Amen.
Video Tribute to Fathers entitled “ There is Nothing Like a Christian Black Man”-Performed by Linda Fegins ( author of poem unknown)(sorry it’s sideways)