"Almost every trial increases our love for others. So even if we don't see any other good, we know of at least one--more love."
This was to be his moment. Although he had been plagued by injuries throughout his entire career, on the evening of August 3rd, 1992 Derek Redmond had never felt stronger. He broke quickly in lane 5, making up the stagger on the runners in lanes 6-8. Then Redmond felt something pop in his right leg. He had torn his hamstring. As the other runners finished the race, all eyes turned to him, helpless and motionless on the track.
Suddenly, a man who broke through security appeared next to the injured runner, who, in spite of his injury, was determined to complete the race. Redmond's father had been watching in disbelief from the grandstand. Now he provided a much-needed shoulder as his son hobbled in agony toward the finish line. Together the father and the son produced one of the most glorious finishes in Olympic history. Barcelona 1992
Happy Father’s Day
A little book compiled by Mary W. Lightfoot entitled "The Heart of a Father" contains the following contribution by James G. Gilken:
You say I exaggerate the splendors of a fine home? That the love and loyalty which gradually take shape within a family are not worth what they cost? Consider this incident, reported from New York City. One afternoon an extremely popular opera was scheduled for performance at the Metropolitan Opera House.
A famous tenor was to sing, and every seat was sold. But just before the curtain rose a disappointing announcement was made. The famous tenor had fallen ill; his role that afternoon would be sung by an almost unknown substitute.
So the performance began, and the substitute tenor made his entrance and sang his first aria. Usually that solo is followed by a tumult of applause; this time the audience sat silent. Then something dramatic happened. A small boy, seated in a box near the stage, rose and addressed the singer.
In a high, childish voice audible to everyone he exclaimed, "Daddy, you're wonderful!" Then, suddenly, everyone was clapping furiously ... clapping and wiping away tears. How much are family love and loyalty worth? They are beyond price.
"My father's generosity was large, and so was his whole soul; he was affable, eloquent, and sweet in his conversation." Those words were written in the year 1494 by a man named Baber, a fifteenth century Emperor of Hindustan.
"Our father always played at being young with his children. He was proud of us. We knew it every day. Living at our house was nice. These words were spoken by a man named William D. Wilkins in the year 1956.
The joy that comes with having a good father is something that sons and daughters in every Age have celebrated and shared and preserved in writing. Clearly, a unique kind of joy flows from a good father/son-father/daughter relationship. The story of a little boy who cried out, "Daddy, you re wonderful!" brings tears of joy to our eyes.
A grown man's simple tribute to his father "Living at our house was nice!" gives us a warm feeling all over. And, over and over again in the Gospels, Jesus employs the image of "earthly father" in order to give us our best human glimpse of His and our heavenly Father.
Jesus speaks of a priceless Father-Son relationship of loyalty and love: "Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me ... the world must know that I love the Father and do as the Father commanded Me" (Jn.14:l1,31). He speaks of a generous Father: " ... the Father knows what you need before you ask Him.. it is My Father who gives you the real heavenly bread..."
A Father’s role is changing in our society and “ Do we need fathers in the home today?”
Steve Farrar says that the father is the anchor of the family. Whenever a father abandons his family or mistreats his wife and children, the family starts to drift. Those children struggle with insecurity and often lack a moral compass.
Consider the ship the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, which carries 6,000 sailors. The vessel weighs 95,000 tons and has not one but two anchors. Each of them weighs 60,000 pounds. Imagine a single anchor that weighs 30 tons! But the huge chain that anchor is attached to weighs 665,000 pounds. Each gigantic link weighs 365 pounds.Even a ship that is not so monstrous needs an anchor, and that anchor has to be connected to the ship by a series of individual links. Families are like that. The father in each generation is a link in a chain that reaches back in time hundreds or even thousands of years.
Each link in that chain is important, but what God is most concerned about today is us fathers--the anchor at the end of that chain!. Dads, are the one who needs to anchor their families on the rock--Jesus Christ--for the next 100 years. Our life today will influence not only our children and grandchildren, but their children after them.
Fathers, if we want our children to be successful in life, we must be their anchor in childhood. Fathers give direction, just as they give stability to a family, father’s give direction. I am of the school of thought that believe fathers are to be the good leaders of the family. This doesn’t mean they are a domineering jackass, idiot, and tyrant.
I am really blessed to have a family, and able to come home to a loving, caring and supportive wife and children. What in the world is worth more than your child’s love and adoration? If you are a good father, but a poor man, your reward is worth any sacrifice you made.
Don’t ever forget that or let anyone tell you differently. Men retire from business every day. Powerful men, I mean powerful men but when they walk out of that office for the last time, they are quickly forgotten. But your children will be around you the rest of your life.
As a father, I would do everything in my power to protect and provide for my family. But God goes even further, God not only provides and protects us. God forgives where sin great, and where sin is greater, his grace is even greatest. This is heart of God the father. And we fathers are encouraged to immolate his character.
May the peace of God which passes all understanding
keep your heat and mind in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Amen.
Rev. Samuel King-Kabu
June 20, 2004