T h e r e a r e n o perfect fathers. All of them must feel at times that their job is bigger than they ever thought it could be. But father’s role is important. It is important for the welfare of the family while the children are still at home. It is important, too, in view of the concepts of father that the children will carry with them when they marry and establish homes of their own. As boys and girls grow up in a home, unconsciously they form ideas as to what a father is like (a mother, too, of course). How does a man treat his wife and chil dren? What responsibility does he take in family living? What regard does he have for God, the Bible, the church, the law, the neighbors, the dog, the cat? Day in and day out, fathers are interpreting to their growing boys and girls the answers to these questions. And the children will carry these mental images to their own marriages. Sons who marry will tend to repeat the pattern set by father. Daughters will look for father’s qualities in their husbands. Father’s role is important, the modern-day comics, car toons, stories, radio, television programs notwithstanding. Think of the many instances today where father is pic tured as a bewildered, embarrassed, helpless victim of circumstances, with little more judgment or command of a situation than a child or at best, a confused adoles cent. Contrast this distorted picture of father’s role with the true picture taught in the Bible. The Word teaches that the father is to be a man of true strength and leadership. He is the head of his wife, loving her with pure, self- sacrificing, forgiving love. By example and teaching he is the leader in spiritual things at home. He has the chief responsibility for the training and discipline of the chil dren.
Present-day portrayals and practices are a far cry from this Bible standard. Even in our church circles a great deal is said about the fact of man’s headship and too little about the responsibilities of such headship. This approach contributes, also, to the prevailing concept of the weak role of father in family living. In a world of tight schedules, how can a father be what he should be to his family? Aside from his task as breadwinner, it takes time for him to be a good lover to his wife, a companion and loving disciplinarian to his children, a spiritual leader in the home as God has ordained. But figured according to the scale of true val ues, these are all-important parts of his role as a father and well worth some extra study and effort. 1. He can keep up a good relationship with his wife. This is important not only for the happiness of themselves as husband and wife. The children’s welfare is at stake too. They need to feel secure in the assurance that father and mother truly love each other. It is in this atmosphere that children develop the ability to love and understand others. 2. He can enjoy his children. A father said, after his children were grown, that if he could Relive the past he would enjoy his children more. Nothing is more im portant to the growing boy or girl than to feel wanted, loved, understood, and appreciated. For a father to greet his child with a bright “Good morning!” at breakfast time or a cheerful “Hello!” when he returns from work, may seem like small things. But they can mean much to children. 3. He can share time with his children. Here it is not so much the quantity of time as the quality. The father who must be absent for work keeps this in mind. When he is at home he belongs to. the family. This is not always THE KINO'S BUSINESS
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