It’s Father’s Day, 2021. I’m thinking of all of the world’s children who have had loving fathers, those who before God have been Christian examples for their families, friends, and neighbors, those who have kept their promises to God to raise their children up in a Godly way, and those who have taught their children “The Lord’s Prayer,” “The Apostles’ Creed,” and “The Ten Commandments.” Truly, these are the men we celebrate today.
I turn to Matthew 11: 16-17. “But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows. And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented.” Do our children really listen to us, do they celebrate their lives, and do they change their ways when they encounter darkness in the world? When we sound the trumpets and play the flutes for them to diligently be awakened to the joys of God’s love and grace, do they arise from their beds in the morning to help proclaim God’s Word throughout the world?
My answer to all of these questions is this. Many do heed God’s call to do good in the world, and they become our “shining stars” for a future blessed by the hands of Jesus Christ. For those who do neither good nor harm, the world is simply a place where mediocrity reigns and excellence is seldom exhibited. For those who do not hear God’s voice and who stay covered in their beds leaving the work for others to do, their paths are strewn with sticks and stones that become boulders in their lives. For the few where evil seems to follow and penetrate, we offer our prayers that their journeys may be forgiven by the Lord.
Let it be said that when fathers follow God’s Word and keep their promises made at their children’s baptisms, there are many “shining stars” in the skies, so many that the skies are illuminated by their light and the world is made a more beautiful place for all. The most incredible truth about these wonderful children is that God knows each and everyone of them by name, and He lights their paths with love and grace. Blessed are the fathers whose light remains shining and whose home welcomes all with love.
Anna Hartt
