Not too long ago, I heard a story about a Pastor who served as a Chaplin in a Texas prison. One day, as Mother’s Day drew near, one of the prisoners approached the Chaplin and asked if he could get a Mother’s Day card for his mother. The Chaplin happily provided him with one.
This news spread quickly amongst all the prisoners, and ultimately almost all of them asked the Chaplin for cards. He gladly helped them as well. He said to himself, “this has been an incredible ministry opportunity! I’ve been trying to reach these guys for some time without much success.”
With Father’s Day in less than six weeks, he thought ahead and ordered cards for their dads. Much to his dismay Father’s Day came and went without a single prisoner requesting a card. That speaks volumes as to why some of them were imprisoned in the first place.
It’s our responsibility to “train up a child in the way he/she should go.” Not the school, not the government, but us as parents; fathers. The role of a dad runs far deeper than blood- it takes more than simply having children to be a father. Be a part of their life. Be someone that they are proud to proclaim, “This is my dad!”
Scripture teaches that who we are and how we live is like a “letter from God.” Our kids read that letter, each and every day.
“Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” – Ephesians 6:4
Joseph R. Menslage
President/Publisher
Katy Christian Magazine
joseph@houstonchristianmagazine.com
