As I look down the road at what this is going to entail for the next 18+ years, I become pretty intimidated. I imagine there are many of you fathers reading this right now that read that verse and think, "Easier said than done, St. Paul!" With all of the temptations and competing influences in this world, we may fear that our children won't listen to us above all the other distractions. We may worry that we won't give the best advice, we won't pay enough attention, our advice won't always be heeded. And, as we examine this call to fatherhood, I can only imagine the number of times we have messed up or felt like we have fallen short. Fatherhood is a high calling and that is why it is full of hardship and struggle and, yes, sin.

It is important, then, that on this Father's Day we reflect not only on our own roles as fathers, but on God our Father. In God we have a father who does not exasperate His children, but instead, loves them and strengthens them, even through their own exasperation! As we struggle and wrestle with our callings as fathers, we have in God a Father we can turn to for strength and support where we are weak. We have a Father who knows our sins and forgives them by sending His Son on a mission of sacrifice and salvation. Because of the shed blood of Jesus, all of our sins are forgiven, all of our hardships are endured, and all of our mistakes are redeemed. Now, in Christ, we draw our strength from the Holy Spirit who gives us the strength and the drive to carry out our calling and be faithful witnesses of Christ to our families. May God our Father bless all fathers on this day!

Pastor Bob