Special days are great memory tools to prompt us to think about major events or contributors to the quality of our life. Today we pay tribute to dads everywhere – some who are memories of our past and some who are still present in our lives.

What a blessing to sit outside and watch my son open and read a stack of “letters” from his children a couple days ago. Each letter captured a small corner of the heart of a little girl as she thought about her dad. To hear what a little girl felt and thought about her dad was rewarding.

Familial love is automatic but it is enhanced with the dedicated service that flows back and forth within the family. A dad who truly loves his children and lives to serve their needs will draw from his children a deep devotion. This prepares a child for the blessings of God. The fifth of the Ten Commandments implores children to honor their father and mother and then attaches the promise of His blessings upon the doer of His command. God picks this up in the New Testament – “Honor thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.” Ephesians 6:2-3

An important consideration is this – a father must serve his children’s needs not wants. Too often fathers mistakenly identify wants and trivial things offered up by the world around them as needs. Identifying what a child really needs, from God’s perspective, and then living to see those needs brought to the child is the essence of being a dad. God bless you in that work!