Yep, so I am going a little old school, heading back to the early eighties and the beloved Footloose flick. So many great songs from this film, including Bonnie Tyler's, "I Need a Hero," the woman's anthem crying out for a hero who is strong, fast, and fresh from the fight. Don't we long for heroes? Don't we yearn for someone to fight for us and to rescue us?
A couple of weeks ago, when mothers were being celebrated and honored on their special day, I was thinking of Father's Day. Mothers receive great praise on their special day and I wondered if fathers receive equal honor. So many times on Father's Day, I hear apologies to sons and daughters who have been hurt and neglected by their fathers followed by an explanation that our heavenly father is different from our earthy fathers. Fathers may even listen to messages challenging them to rise up and be the men God has called them to be. But, on Mother's Day, we praise mothers for all the hard work they do and acknowledge how they run the house and the family, almost leaving the work men do in the dust.
So on this Father's Day, I want to say to the good men out there, yes,we need you. We need you to be heroic.
Our culture pushes men aside and pulls them down with words and actions that scream, we don't need you, you are an idiot, and you do not meet our expectations. Have you seen sitcoms lately? How often do we laugh at the stereotype of incompetent men? How often do women joke and laugh about a man's inability to do or understand something? I understand this may all be done in good humor and in jest, but are our words uplifting, edifying, and encouraging? Are we putting men down just to get a laugh?
Men, I apologize for all the ways our culture, our media, and our words have told you you are inept and we don't need you. We do. We need men who love and follow the one true hero, Jesus. We desperately need you.
To the mighty men who are following Jesus, THANK YOU! Thank you for standing strong. Thank you for serving. Thank you for fighting the good fight. Thank you for your courage. Thank you for your humility. Thank you for your perseverance. Thank you for standing in the gap. Thank you for leading other men to follow in your footsteps as you follow the Lord. Thank you for loving your family. Thank you for being the heroes we so desperately need.
May I encourage the women this Father's Day to celebrate the men in your life with words that strengthen and speak life to them? This may also include asking for forgiveness for the words you used to wound these warriors we need. Men, may I encourage you to continue to be strong and bold in the Lord as you do good for in due time you will reap a harvest.
A couple of weeks ago, when mothers were being celebrated and honored on their special day, I was thinking of Father's Day. Mothers receive great praise on their special day and I wondered if fathers receive equal honor. So many times on Father's Day, I hear apologies to sons and daughters who have been hurt and neglected by their fathers followed by an explanation that our heavenly father is different from our earthy fathers. Fathers may even listen to messages challenging them to rise up and be the men God has called them to be. But, on Mother's Day, we praise mothers for all the hard work they do and acknowledge how they run the house and the family, almost leaving the work men do in the dust.
So on this Father's Day, I want to say to the good men out there, yes,we need you. We need you to be heroic.
Our culture pushes men aside and pulls them down with words and actions that scream, we don't need you, you are an idiot, and you do not meet our expectations. Have you seen sitcoms lately? How often do we laugh at the stereotype of incompetent men? How often do women joke and laugh about a man's inability to do or understand something? I understand this may all be done in good humor and in jest, but are our words uplifting, edifying, and encouraging? Are we putting men down just to get a laugh?
Men, I apologize for all the ways our culture, our media, and our words have told you you are inept and we don't need you. We do. We need men who love and follow the one true hero, Jesus. We desperately need you.
To the mighty men who are following Jesus, THANK YOU! Thank you for standing strong. Thank you for serving. Thank you for fighting the good fight. Thank you for your courage. Thank you for your humility. Thank you for your perseverance. Thank you for standing in the gap. Thank you for leading other men to follow in your footsteps as you follow the Lord. Thank you for loving your family. Thank you for being the heroes we so desperately need.
May I encourage the women this Father's Day to celebrate the men in your life with words that strengthen and speak life to them? This may also include asking for forgiveness for the words you used to wound these warriors we need. Men, may I encourage you to continue to be strong and bold in the Lord as you do good for in due time you will reap a harvest.
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