“The glory of children is their fathers.”
The “lost” black framed glasses were resting on a table top. I called down the stairwell, “Josiah, I found your glasses.” Our four-year-old grandson bounded up the stairs, grabbed them with a thanks, and ran back down with his beloved glasses once again delightfully perched on the bridge of his nose.
I say “delightfully,” because for the last month everywhere Josiah goes, his glasses go. This would be expected if the boy needed them. He doesn’t. In fact, his glasses have no glass. Josiah punched out the shaded plastic lenses. The boy has the eyesight of an eagle.
So what gives?
Josiah wants to be like his daddy. David, our “favorite fifth,” Jessica’s husband, and Josiah’s daddy also has black-rimmed glasses.
“The glory of children is their fathers.”
These days, Shannan and I are enjoying the gift of having David and Jess living under our roof while they are building a new home a few miles down the highway. Daily hugs from their kids have been like daily vitamins, only better — so good for the soul. It has also given us a front-row seat to the fantastic job of parenting they are doing as well as serving as a reminder of the challenges all parents face doing their best to raise great kids.
But it is Father’s Day in the U.S. and Josiah and his glasses serve as my exemplar for the importance of and my deep delight in the faithful parenting of all our sons (and son-in-law): David, Paul, Joel, Brent Ripple, Zachary, and Daniel.
So to “the brothers” as they are affectionately known in our family circle, I say, “Happy Father’s Day!” You make me proud. I love all of you and each of you. And while I could share many more reasons for my fatherly delight — and stories to go with each — I offer the following as my cause for joy as they represent the good work God is doing in and through you to the benefit of your children:
You worship openly
The psalmist said, “I will bless the Lord at all times, his praise will continually be in my mouth.” This is a Sunday thing, but it is also a daily thing. And you do it. I see it. I hear it. I watch it. As you worship in private and with the church, pray with and over your kids, give God thanks at the table, and speak of the Lord throughout their days, you teach your kiddos there is One more important than them, more powerful than them, more worthy than them. You are rightsizing who they are in relation to who God is. That’s big.
You love your wives
In Proverbs 30, Agur said there were three things that amazed him. Thinking a bit harder he said, actually there are four things I cannot comprehend. One of those is “the way of a man with a young woman” (30:19 CSB). Guys, none of us love our wives perfectly. That said, I love the way you love your brides. Time spent. Hands held. Getaways planned. Admiring words given. Paul said it, “love your wives, just as Christ loved the church.” That is daily sacrifice freely given. You do it. It’s so important. Kids need to see how to treat a woman and that momma is more important than they are.
You work diligently
“The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it,” Genesis tells us. Work is a good thing and a godly thing. Jesus said, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working” (John 5:17 NIV). Guys, each of you is a diligent worker. You provide for you families and teach your kids the God-given beauty and necessity of work. You have goals without work being a god. I love that.
You discipline, and you discipline in love
Fellas, just yesterday I was reading about David’s refusal to discipline his son, Adonijah. The writer of Kings makes this side note: “His father had never rebuked him by asking, ‘Why do you behave as you do?’” (1 Kings 1:6 ESV). That refusal brought trouble to the kingdom and ultimately Adonijah’s demise.
Hebrews tells us, “God disciplines the son he loves” (Proverbs 3:11-12; Hebrews 12:6). God loves us enough to do the unpleasant work of correcting us. I suspect that is no fun for God and it’s no fun for you either. Yet, I’ve watched each of you apply that same loving discipline, even when the easier path was to ignore confrontation. Thanks for not letting your kids go the route of Adonijah.
You rest unapologetically
I have not set the best example in this good endeavor. Too many times I have let my identity get too tied up with my activity. God instructs us differently. He says, “It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep” (Psalm 127:2 ESV). “Don’t burn the candle at both ends,” God says. It won’t “get you there.” Jesus said to his disciples, “Come away and rest for awhile.” (Mark 6:31). I love seeing the way you do take time off personally and with your families.
You gather with God’s people
“Churchman” is a word rarely heard these days. Sunday sports, virtual church, and busy lives have a way of edging God and the people of God out of the Sunday rhythm. Yet God tells us, “Do not forsake the assembling of yourselves together as is the habit of some, but encourage one another and all the more as you see the day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:24-25). Jesus said, “I will build my church” which tells me the Church is a pretty big deal. Few things make me as delighted as seeing how all of you prioritize gathering with and participating in the life—the up and down life—of your local church. Way to go! You are churchman in all the best sense of the word.
You love fiercely
Solomon said, “Many waters cannot quench love, nor can rivers drown it. If a man tried to buy love with all his wealth, his offer would be utterly scorned” (Song of Songs 8:7 NLT). Solomon’s context was the love of a man for a woman, but his description of love bridges all contexts. Love is strong! Love is fierce! Love does not quit! Guys, I see this in the way you patiently persevere with each other, your wives, your children, and in the way you treat customers, and your employees. I also love the way you work through tough stuff and tuff times rather than run from it or run around it. This too honors God and reflects who He is and His good work in you.
“What more can David say to you? You know your servant Lord God.”
You understand your true identity
I wrap this up with David’s words above for they hit home when I read them. David, always an open book before the Lord, knew that God knew him. David knew his finest hours and was painfully aware of his sinful moments; moments that wreaked great havoc. That knowing humbled David.
So I don’t for a moment, hold you up as bright and shining stars for all the world to gaze and admire, but as men—like David—who know that God knows you, and yet loves and forgives you and works in and through you because of what Christ has done for you (Romans 5:1, 8-10, 20).
It is his work that is your standing, and his grace that keeps you standing when you fall.
Fellas, the only place where perfect performances lie this side of heaven are songs and sonnets, epitaphs and tributes. Real life and real living erases such notions. But resting in that work of Christ, established by your Father in Heaven, and finding your identity in Him and what he has done for you, is good reason to celebrate and all the power you need to press on in your fatherly endeavor.
I love you all!