St James' Church

Father’s day is always set on the third Sunday of June, thus today 17th June is Father’s day. Incidentally, Father’s Day in 1990 was also 17th June, the day my father passed away.

In my father, I remember a man who worked very hard to provide for our family, cared much about our education (he sent four of us to UK for studies), cooked elaborate suppers and a magnet to relatives and friends. Yet I also remember a man who is strict, short tempered, and impulsive. Warts and all, he is my father. 

Now, as I have a family of my own and as I got to know God, the father of all, better, I realize how difficult it is to be a father and what an incredible privilege and a heavy responsibility it is to be a father.  It is a privilege because we men have been given this aspect of God to imitate. It is a responsibility because the future generation is in our hands and how well we do is always measured against the perfect Father of all. That is why, more often than not, fathers harbor deep within, a sense of inadequacy, a sense of desperation and a sense of failure.  If you have not noticed, mother’s day is often celebrated with much gusto whereas father’s day is often a low key event.

Yet, fathers, do not despair. Our heavenly father is not like us or our fathers. Yes, He wants us to be like him, yet He also knows we are but dust. Thus He forgives, thus He gives us the Holy Spirit to empower us and His Holy Word to guide us. Learn to be a son to Him first as we learn to be a father to our sons and daughters. Then learn to be a good husband to our wives as we learn to be a good father to our sons and daughters.  Finally, learn to be a Dad instead of just a father to our sons and daughters because we are to call God, Abba Father.

Have a blessed Father’s Day!

Pas William Chee