No, this isn’t anyone in my family. It’s AI generated. But it serves the purpose. And yes, I do have a recipe at the end of this blog. I think that will become a regular part of my blogging.
This Sunday, millions of men will attend church services, and odds are high they will hear a Father’s Day sermon. But based upon what I’ve heard in the past, that sermon will be nothing like the Mother’s Day sermon. On Mother’s Day, mothers are thanked, glorified, praised…you get the idea. Father’s Day sermons are more like warnings and reprimands. Or the role of earthly fathers is briefly mentioned as the sermon goes on to talk about our Heavenly Father. Which is right and should always be a focus of any worship service, but how about encouraging the earthly fathers who are sacrificing their time, money, and energy for their children?
Our society has evolved from the 1950s “Father Knows Best” or Ward Cleaver to George Jefferson and Archie Bunker (who were always wrong) to Tool Time’s Tim Taylor who was an overgrown boy in a man’s body. Somehow men have become the objects of ridicule, criticism, and jokes.
I know I’m speaking in general, and it’s not always the case. I’ve kidded with people and said the tGod created Adam and then said, “There’s no way this guy can make it on his own. I need to create woman.” But I’m joking. The truth is, the world needs both men and women, and as long as the two work together instead of against each other, the world can be a better place.
With these thoughts in mind, then, I choose to blog today about the importance and value of fathers who are doing their best to raise children and be there for their adult children.
To all the dads who stayed up late on Christmas Eve working on the “some assembly required” projects, thank you. To the dads who attended every recital, every ballgame, every cheerleading or band competition, thank you. To the dads who worked long and hard to contribute to the family finances, thank you. To the dads who treated and treat your wives well as an example to your children of what a husband should be like, thank you. To the dads who don’t leave all the parenting to the moms and are actively involved in raising their children, thank you. To the single dads raising children on your own, thank you. And, as a Christian, I have to say to the dads who taught their children about faith, thank you.
I could go on and on. Fathers who are being the best fathers they know how to be deserve recognition. Fathers who have abandoned their roles–how sad. They have hurt their children, no doubt, but they may realize someday they have also hurt themselves.
I know that my husband, as the father of a 42-year-old and a 36-year-old, loves his “boys” deeply. Like me, he sees them as the men they have become, but like me, he hasn’t forgotten the children they were. He was always and is always there for them. They know that. They may not say it (you know, you can’t get mushy with a dad, right?), but they know it. And I know they’re grateful.
My dad passed away in 2012. I missed him for a long time. He and I could talk in ways that I was never able to do with my mom. She and I had a different dynamic. I was such a daddy’s girl. He influenced me in so many ways–his work ethic, his devotion to God, his lack of prejudice in a generation that was very prejudiced, and his loyalty to family. Sure, he wasn’t perfect, but no one is. Sure, he made some mistakes in parenting as we all do. But he did his best.
It is my hope that you dads will be honored appropriately this Father’s Day. It’s my hope that you will receive the recognition you deserve and the encouragement you need. It is my hope that the fathers who have abandoned their roles, either physically, emotionally, or both, will reconsider and change their ways.
And now for the chocolate oatmeal cookie recipe. This was my mother-in-law’s recipe, and my husband can make it better than I can. He is learning to be quite the cook these days. Enjoy!
Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies
Ingredients
2 cups white sugar
1/2 cup Hershey’s cocoa
1/2 cup milk
1/2 stick unsalted butter
3 cups instant oats
In a saucepan on medium high heat, stir together sugar, cocoa, and milk. Bring to a rolling boil and set off of heat. Add 1/2 stick butter and stir until melted. Gradually stir in oats. Drop by spoonfuls onto waxed paper and allow to cool. Remove from waxed paper and store in airtight container.
Life As I know it 