From James Dodwell - Hammers of Hope
Good Morning,
I want to say happy “belated” Father’s Day to all of you,
who are called dad. I was curious as to when Father’s day began so I did some
research and found the idea to set aside a day for fathers was conceived on
June 19, 1910 but it wasn’t until 1972 that it became a national holiday.
Incidentally, it was 58 years after Mother’s day was proclaimed a national
holiday. Not that it matters, or is even a significant bit of trivia; I just
found it interesting to know what has always been viewed as a man’s world women
were first to be recognized with a celebratory day of recognition. Just saying.
When I was a young man we always made a big to-do for
Mother’s day and did very little for Father’s day. I remember for Mother’s day
we would all gather at my grandparents home for lunch, of course the mothers
did all of the meal preparation while playing shepherd to all the children,
while the fathers talked “business”. However, Father’s day went like
this, children were shuffled out of the house and the dad was left to rest or
do what he wanted for the day. It was the 1960’s and that is just the way it
was back then. My father was involved when discipline was needed for us
children, not to be the center of attention for a day. I can remember my mother
saying something like, “Go to your room young man, your father will be in to
see you when he gets home.” Although she never said he will be in with a belt
or a switch, I knew what her words really meant, tough love and painful
discipline, I was getting a whooping, not a spanking, a whooping.
As I pondered this today I recalled a story of a small boy
is sent to bed by his father. A short time later, the small boy said,
"Da-ad...." The dad responded, "What?" The small boy,
"I'm thirsty. Can you bring a drink of water?" "No. You had your
chance. Lights out." A long Pause:"Da-aaaad....."
"WHAT?" "I'm THIRSTY. Can I have a drink of water??"
"I told you NO!" If you ask again, I'll have to spank you!!" A
much longer pause......"Daaaa-aaaad....." "WHAT!"
"When you come in to spank me, can you bring a drink of water?"
If this had been my son there is no way I could have spanked
someone as brave and creative as this small boy. I don’t really remember having
to be disciplined very often but I do remember vividly the times I was and why.
I was taught right from wrong and recalling the tough love moments always gave
me pause before I acted on some ill conceived idea or plot. The fact that I was
raised is a Christian environment helped also. We were taught bad people/bad
leaders get punished and good people/good leaders get rewarded and this usually
goes for the followers, as well. In Jeremiah 30:10-11, Jeremiah declares to the
people that Lord’s way of punishing His people is to give them bad leaders while
the Lord’s way of rewarding His people is to provide them with good leaders.
This goes along with a statement I heard John Maxwell say,
“Everything rises and falls on leadership.” This is so true. As we stretch and
grow on our leadership journey and become more disciplined, we begin to better
understand the statement, “As the leader goes, so go the people.” Why is this
true? First, because leaders represent the people they oversee. The people
reflect the leaders they follow. We see this everyday in our world. Good
leaders with good character and integrity draw people who are like them, as is
the same with bad leaders. As leaders, we are usually the most influential
individuals among the people. Our walk determines what the others do in their
walk. If we are generous and display a servant’s attitude, most likely our
followers will have similar traits.
A true leader understands God starts the movement within and
He uses one person to spearhead the movement. A leader understands that people
are like sheep and look to the leader as a model. The father in the home is
called on to be the leader. He represents the people he oversees, the family.
The family reflects the leadership model they follow. The father is usually the
most influential individual in the family. The father understands that the Lord
starts the movement and He will use the father to spearhead it. The father in
the home acts as the shepherd, what he does, the family does, where he goes,
the family goes, what he represents, the family represents; the father should
be the role model.
I encourage us as fathers and mothers to be the model for
our family. Be a guiding light, illuminating the way by sharing our faith,
hope, unconditional love and joy with them and others. It will make a
difference, add value and discipline to our family and others. Jeremiah
30:10-11
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