Happy Father's Day

When my two sons were teenagers I wrote the following poem, framed it and gave them a copy as a gift from my heart.

To Be a Man

When you can rise above your
fears to conquer every challenge
that comes to those who dare
to climb the highest heights;
When you can keep on getting up each
time you've failed or been knocked down;
When you can see your greatest strength
lies in your faith and gentleness,
your greatest courage in admitting
your faults, and with God's help
strive to overcome them;
When you can accept responsibility
for resolving all your hurts and break
the chain from generations past;
When you can know and show a father's
love and feel with all your heart;
When you can love yourself, others
and God more than earthly gain,
or fame and recognition, you will,
my son, be then a man—
and indeed a great man at that.

– Dick Innes © Copyright

And of course, I realized that unless I modeled what I wrote and wished for them, all of my efforts would be in vain.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me to live so that I will become more and more the man/woman of God you want me to be, so that my life will be a model for my sons/daughters so that they, too, will want to become the men/women of God you want them to be. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

"Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged" (Colossians 3:21, NIV).

NOTE: Click HERE for a printed copy of this poem that can be purchased from the ACTS online store.