Father's Day

We are approaching a weekend used to celebrate dad. History has repeatedly demonstrated that a society will only be as strong as the fabric of the home. Therefore, fathers can have a remarkable influence on society in the way they lead their homes and train their children.

English poet William Wordsworth wrote, “The child is father of the man,” meaning the experiences which occur in the early and formative years of a child’s life shape the character and behavior of tomorrow’s adult. As that is true of the individual, it becomes true of an entire society. Both need strong character built step by step.

We all know individuals who seem to be positively driven and focused in life. They rise above the horizon of the populace and are leaders in actions, reactions, attitudes and direction. Others seem to flounder in an aimless, self-pitying or even victim mentality which keeps them from rising to any level of meaningfulness or life-enjoyment. What determines the difference?

There is a necessary ingredient needed to rise above the milieu of mediocrity to a meaningful, productive, influential life. The ingredient is strong character. Strength of character is something that must be taught to the heart from the earliest ages. It is not the product of ease or received by genetic inheritance. Proverbs 22:6 instructs, “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Strength of character is the result of purposeful training.

Effective fathers know that training children in their view of and knowledge of God is part of character development. You may have heard someone say, “We do not want to force religion on our children. We want them to be free to make up their own minds about matters as important as that.” This may sound sophisticated, but lacks merit. Most conscientious parents see the fallacy of allowing children to “make up their own minds” about nutrition and education. Parents know that the loving and responsible thing is to insist that their children eat vegetables and go to school, but then often neglect to teach their children to know God. Now, religion is not an end in itself. There have been many morally bankrupt, religious people. However, neutrality about God is itself a form of religion. If neutrality is the attitude of parents it can become the religion of their children.

Someone has wisely said, “Home is the place where life makes up its mind.” Young and old must understand that truth is learned and practiced and not a natural directive in the heart. John 17:17 gives the source of truth: “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” Right must be taught and celebrated and wrong rejected and shunned. The result of engrafting absolute truth in lives is strong character. Truthfulness, integrity, industry, and love for others - those adult qualities that form a strong society - are results of a life trained in definitive truth, taught and caught by example and precept. 2 Timothy 3:15 reads, “And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” Strong character is critical in the structure of a strong society.

Sixteenth century author Thomas Paine’s observation is noteworthy, “Reputation is what men and women think of us; character is what God and angels know of us.” Strong character starts and flourishes with its demonstration in the words and lives of fathers (and mothers) and becomes the learned legacy of the children in the home. May our community be filled with such purposeful strength. Happy Father's Day.