Honor Your Father

Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you. (Exodus 20:12)
 
In her powerful text “The Will To Change: Men, Masculinity, and Love,” Bell books writes of her father. She says, “Growing up, I knew my father as the strong man who did not talk, who did not show feelings, who did not give time or attention. He was a provider, the protector, the warrior guarding the gate. He was the stranger in the house. We were not allowed to know him, to hear his boyhood stories, to revel in his memories. His life was shrouded in mystery.”
 
On the contrary, a recent Pew Research study is showing that this image of the stoic dad is evolving. They conclude that, “fatherhood in America is changing,” with fathers today taking a more active role in caring for their children, even doing more to help around the house, assisting with childcare and household chores in ways that differ dramatically from what dads tended to do a half century ago.  
 
What’s important to note here, is that no matter which category your dad falls into, whether he is more stoic and reserved or more present and involved, Scripture says to honor your father.  
 
When God’s Word gives us this command, it’s not just talking about honor certain fathers, the ones who wear suits, lead the family in prayer, never curse and never drink. It’s also talking about those who only wear sweat suits, have never prayed a day in their life, cuss every third sentence, and drink Jack Daniels.  
 
Don’t get me wrong. I understand that some fathers are easier to honor than others, but at the end of the day, if you are a follower of Christ, you are to honor the earthly father you’ve been given by your Heavenly Father. Even if it’s from a distance, even if it’s with boundaries in place, and even if it’s difficult, make the decision to honor your father. When you do, you’ll be honoring your Heavenly Father as well.