The pillars of godly fatherhood are forged early in life. Current fathers are called by God to be the guides for the fathers of the future. Today’s dads seek help from the Ultimate Father in fashioning men of God. General Douglas MacArthur understood this and wrote these words in the Philippines during the desperate early days of the Pacific war:
“Build me a son, O Lord, who will be strong enough to know when he is weak, and brave enough to face himself when he is afraid; one who will be proud and unbending in honest defeat, and humble and gentle in victory.
“Build me a son whose wishbone will not be where his backbone should be; a son who will know Thee and that to know himself is the foundation stone of knowledge. Lead him, I pray, not in the path of ease and comfort, but under the stress and spur of difficulties and challenge. Here let him learn to stand up in the storm; here let him learn compassion for those who fail.
“Build me a son whose heart will be clean, whose goal will be high; a son who will master himself before he seeks to master other men; one who will learn to laugh, yet never forget how to weep; one who will reach into the future, yet never forget the past.
“And after all these things are his, add, I pray, enough of a sense of humor, so that he may always be serious, yet never take himself too seriously. Give him humility, so that he may always remember the simplicity of greatness, the open mind of true wisdom, the meekness of true strength.
“Then I, his father, will dare to whisper, “I have not lived in vain.”
Father God, I pray today for fathers everywhere who feel the weight upon their shoulders of a role for which they are truly inadequate without Your help. Father, help them to bear that burden with the confidence that You will help them as they guide their sons and daughters. Strengthen them for the road ahead. Thank you Lord.
God loves you!
Mike
