Sunday will be Father's Day. Why not Sears Craftsman Day, DaySpring Card or Hallmark Card Day? When I looked up Father's Day on the internet, I found hundreds of entries ranging from neckties, to fishing rods, to motorcycles. I also found a website that contains hundreds of Father's Day sermons for $5 each. (I didn't buy any.)
Interesting events are suggested for Father's Day -- IF we even remember the occasion. And on Monday, it's all over. We've done our duty to Dad for another year; and it's back to normal -- whatever that is.
The first recorded celebration of Father's Day that I found dates back to Babylon. Archaeologists discovered a 4,000-year-old clay tablet on which a boy named Elmesu wished his father a long and prosperous life.
The next entry was dated July 5, 1908 in Fairmont, W.V., where father's day was commemorated at William Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church South -- now known as Central United Methodist Church. Grace Golden Clayton is believed to have suggested it to her pastor after an explosion in nearby Monongah killed 361 men.
Sonora Dodd, of Spokane, Wash., also had an idea for father's day while listening to a Mother's Day sermon in 1909. Her father was a Civil War veteran who raised his children when her mother died in childbirth. Sonora's father was born in June, so she chose to hold the first Father's Day celebration on June 19, 1910.
In 1924, President Calvin Coolidge recommended that Father's Day become a national holiday, and in 1966 President Lyndon Johnson signed a proclamation declaring the third Sunday of June as Father's Day. Finally President Richard Nixon signed the law in 1972 which made it permanent.
In the Roman Catholic tradition, Father's Day is celebrated on Saint Joseph's Day, March 19, though in most countries Father's Day is a secular celebration.
In Germany father's day, Vatertag, is always celebrated on Ascension Day (the Thursday forty days after Easter). Regionally, it's also called men's day, Männertag.
Of the many Father's Day axioms I found, here are two great ones:
"One father is more than a hundred schoolmasters." (English Proverb)
"I cannot think of any need in childhood as strong as the need for a father's protection." (Sigmund Freud)
When Mrs. Dodd decided to honor her father, she didn't intend to give him only one day of recognition. Rather, it was a day to publicly honor him for all that he was to her during her entire life. Some of her thoughts were: "A father gives his livelihood to feed, clothe, and house his family. A father gives himself to protect his family against harm. A father gives of himself to teach his kids how to live."
But there must be a higher principle involved than honoring a man just because he is a dad.
When I think of my Dad, I don't think of him in light of Father's Day. Rather, I think of him as having shaped my life, and a lot of memories flood my mind.
Whether the church and world want to admit it or not, God uses fathers to shape the lives of the children. Fatherhood represents Godly Authority. This is why the world wants to strip the home of the father-figure. This is also why the world spends so much time, money, and energy to discredit the father figure and make him appear as an ignorant fool or bumbling oaf.
Genesis chapter 3 tells us the story of how Lucifer created doubt about Father God's integrity. Lucifer started with: "Has God Said?"
Ephesians 6:2-3, which is a repeat of Deuteronomy 5:15 says, "Honor your father and mother, which is the first commandment with promise: that it may be well with you, and that your days may be long upon the earth." It is very important to God to honor our fathers.
In the same way that I do not wait until Sunday to honor the Lord, I do not wait 'til Father's Day to honor my dad. I honor them both all year long.
Often, the way we view our earthly father reveals our subconscious thoughts about our Heavenly Father. And the reverse is true. However a person views God often reveals his or her secret emotions about their earthly father.
My prayer is that you learn to love and honor both God and your dad on Father's Day and every day.
-- Gene Linzey is a speaker, author, and former pastor. He is president of the Siloam Springs Writers Guild. Send comments and questions to [email protected]. The opinions expressed are those of the author.
Religion on 06/15/2016