Father’s Day 2018
Psalm 127
Congratulations! You’re now a father.
I remember when it happened and how it happened but I do not remember being ready for it to happen to me.
The mystery of life became evident when I became a father. I was 27 years old when my wife gave birth to our daughter.
I did not grow up on a farm and we never had many pets so the act of birth was something I knew very little about. We attended prenatal classes at least I think I made it to a few of them. I had even seen videos as part of my training as a police officer.
Somehow all the education and preparation failed to prepare me for the actual event. My wife had been threatening to have the baby at home in the bathtub, a water birth. She had read an article about it. Pregnant Mom’s to be love reading articles.
On Oct 1st 1984 I found Fran up early around 6 AM soaking in the tub when she confessed to me that she thought she was having labor pains.
I immediately ordered her out of the tub and into some clothes so we could head to the hospital. She reluctantly complied as she insisted I just return home as the pains were just starting. I did not turn around, I knew I needed the help of professionals.
A primordial fear had gotten hold of me that morning that would not let go. I had never even seen kittens or puppies being born and I was not about to calmly observe as our first child entered the world doing the breast stroke in our bathtub.
We made it to the hospital and just as Fran had predicted we had to wait, she was nowhere near ready to deliver.
Well word got out and family visited but mostly Fran paced the hallway of the hospital as I went to work. Back then you did not get time off for such events, there was no such thing as maternity or parental leave. I can only imagine her thoughts about me as she paced up and down the floor.
Fortunately Fran’s doctor was a baseball fan and the American League Championship Series was on the Detroit Tigers and the Kansas City Royals were in a battle to go to the World Series and the Doctor did not want to miss it. As a result Fran was induced and our bouncing baby girl arrived on Oct 2nd just about at the start of the second inning. Detroit won the game 8 to 1 and continued to sweep the series and go on to win the World Series on Oct 14th.
It was an unforgettable event for me and I would have preferred to wait in the hallway but I did my duty. Birth is a lot like life, it is messy and exciting and amazing all at the same time. I was so rattled I tried to put the little foot booties on my head instead of on my feet.
I kind of think I know how Adam felt when Eve gave birth to Cain. Dumbfounded.
Following the arrival of a newborn there is much to contend with, caring now for Mother and Child is a big deal. Like I say back then we could not take time off to do this. Family members were quick to visit but few were willing to help and Fran had to manage on her own.
In preparation for this blessed event I thought it would be a novel idea to build our child’s crib with my own two hands. My intention was to build something that would become a family heirloom. Something to be passed to future generations.
If you have heard about some of my previous adventures in woodworking you know I was unsuccessful at building a simple dog house so how was I going to build a crib? I started the doghouse by beginning with the roof. I wasn’t going to make that mistake again.
I, like Fran had also been reading magazines about parenthood during this time and I found an article with step by step directions about how to build a crib.
It had all the measurements laid out and it even had sliding doors for storage. But as you may well know “I’m not that guy.”
So I took the article to a place where they make furniture and asked the owner to just cut the pieces and I’ll assemble it and paint it. In my mind that would qualify as building it myself. Right?
I put it together and added big caster wheels and painted it all up. (Lead proof paint) The big mistake I made was to put it together in the nursery. That would later prove to be a mistake as it would not fit through the doorway after I had it all finished. To get it out of the Nursery I had to remove the door trim and frame when we moved to Wallaceburg a year later.
The point of all this is that none of us men are ever really truly ready to be Father’s but God in His wisdom decided that the Family was the best building block for human society.
Genesis 2:24 Authorized King James Version
“24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.”
Our scripture today really gives us men the guidelines as to how best to become a Father.
Psalm 127:1 “If GOD doesn’t build the house the builder’s only build shacks.”
My crib was not built with proper planning and I should never have attempted to build it on my own without an expert to help me. God wants to help us as Fathers to build our homes on a solid foundation and not to build unstable shacks. Our homes should be built on God as the foundation and His Word is to be used to frame and cover our homes.
What is your home standing on today?
Psalm 127:2 The Message Bible
“If God doesn’t guard the city, the night watchman might as well take a nap. It’s useless to rise early and go to bed late, and work your worried fingers to the bone.”
With God watching over our homes we need not fear or be concerned about the welfare of our wife and children. We need not be anxious about how we are going to provide for them and protect them. We can trust that God is there to help us provide and protect our families at all times because God has a vested interest in our family. God sees them as His family too.
“Don’t you know He enjoys giving rest to those He loves?”
Psalm 127:2
The Bible tells us that children are the best gift God can give us, they are God’s way of providing a legacy for us.
Psalm 127:3
Don’t you see that children are God’s best gift? The fruit of the womb His generous legacy?
Now that I am getting older I do wonder and reflect what impact I will have made on planet earth and on my fellow human beings. What will people say about me when I’m long gone?
The Bible says they will speak of my children and who and what they have become because of my influence and activity in their lives. My daughter Audrey and my son Joshua will be who people point to when my legacy is discussed.
It will not be about my various careers or words that I have spoken or written. It certainly will not be about anything I have built. It will not be about what I owned or what I accumulated. No, the lives of my children will speak for me and Fathers the lives of your children will speak for you.
Those of you who have big families will leave a big legacy. There is a proportional blessing to this in Psalm 127:4
“Like a warrior’s fistful of arrows are the children of a vigorous youth.”
Your many children send a message to any enemies you might have. Don’t mess with us because we stick together to defend our parents.
Such families are blessed.
Psalm 127
“Oh how blessed are you parents, with your quivers full of children.”
A quiver would hold five arrows.
Large families leave a large legacy shared by many. Your blessings are multiplied in and through the number of children you have. I know that goes contrary to today’s thinking but that’s what the Bible says.
With a large family you can outnumber those who oppose you. Numbers matter and give weight to your legacy.
Psalm 127:5
“Your enemies don’t stand a chance against you; you’ll sweep them right off your doorstep.”
There is strength in numbers. But even if you just have a small family and only one child remember that “when you stand with God you are always standing in the majority”.
The Bible is full of examples of Father’s both good and bad. That’s one thing I like about the Bible it does not hide the truth. It shows real people with real problems just like you and me. People who are trying their level best to raise loving caring little human beings, while wrestling against their own fallen nature and the pressures of family and society. Father’s I suggest to you that when you are perplexed or feel overwhelmed in raising your child, look to God’s word.
In it is the counsel and wisdom of thousands of years of proven ways to work out whatever trouble or conflict or calamity your child might be facing.
Do not give up hope Father’s and do not exasperate your children but rather love them and encourage them and above all be a living example to them.
Show your child that you are strongest when you are on your knees in prayer before God on their behalf.
Let them hear you use Jesus name as a praise word and not as a blaspheme.
Now that will leave a legacy you will be proud of for all eternity.
Instruct your children in God’s word and show leadership as the priest of your home by being faithful in honoring the Sabbath. Bring your family to church don’t just take them.
Do these things and the others that God’s word instructs you and you will hear…
Matthew 25:21
21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
Amen
