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Happy Father’s Day

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

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."

NOTE: A printed copy of this poem (framed or unframed) can be purchased from the ACTS online store at: http://actscom.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=3&products_id=31

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