Exodus 20:12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

Matthew 15:4 For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death.

Ephesians 6:1-2 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)

The

responsibilities

of

fatherhood

are

overwhelming

at times.

I Kings 2:1-3Now the days of David drew nigh that he should die; and he charged Solomon his son, saying, I go the way of all the earth: be thou strong therefore, and shew thyself a man; And keep the charge of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself:

“Only a dad, but he gives his all,

To smooth the way for his children

small,

Doing with courage stern and grim,

The deeds that his father did for

him.

This is the line that for him I pen:

Only a dad, but the best of men.”

(Edgar A. Guest)

A father is a

man, but still

only a man.

A Child says at:

4 years: My daddy can do anything.

7 years: My dad knows a lot, a whole lot.

8 years: My father doesn't know quite everything.

12 years: Oh, well, naturally Father doesn't know that, either.

14 years: Father? Hopelessly old-fashioned!

21 years: Oh, that man is out-of-date. What did you expect?

25 years: He knows a little bit about it, but not much.

30 years: Maybe we ought to find out what Dad thinks.

35 years: A little patience. Let's get Dad's assessment before we do anything.

50 years: I wonder what Dad would have thought about that. He was pretty smart.

60 years: My dad knew absolutely everything!

65 years: "I'd give anything if Dad were here so I could talk this over with him. I really miss that man.

Last night my little boy confessed to me

Some childish wrong:

And kneeling at my knee,

He prayed with tears,

"Dear God, make me a man

Like Daddy--wise and strong;

I know you can."

Then while he slept,

I knelt beside his bed,

Confessed my sins

And prayed with low-bowed head,

"O God, make me a child

Like my child here--

Pure, guideless,

Trusting Thee with faith sincere."Andrew Gilles, 1870-1942

But it is just such imperfect

fathers that God say we are to

honor.

“What can you say to someone who always been one of the most essential parts of your world; someone who took you by the hand when you were little, and helped to show you the way?

What can you say to someone who stood by to help you grow, providing love and strength so you could become the person you are today?

What can you say to him to let him know, that he is the best there is, and that you hope you‟ve inherited some of his wisdom and strength?

What words would you say if you ever get the chance?

Maybe you just say, „I love you, dad!‟ and hope he understands.”