Father's Day

by Joey Davis

It was a nice gesture. Several weeks ago, Mother's Day, Melissa and I visited a local Restaurant, Meacham's.

When we arrived, there was a teenaged girl standing in front of the restaurant with a huge box of long stemmed flowers to give to each mother who entered. It was greatly appreciated by all.

However, yesterday, our family went to the same restaurant for Father's Day. I didn't get so much as a "happy Father's Day" from anyone! No trinkets, no gifts, no flowers. . . no nuthin'! (Melissa and I discussed the kind of trinkets that could be given on Father's Day, such as golf tees, fishing lures, ball caps, etc.)

Why did this restaurant not do something for dear ol' dad? Are fathers second-class parents? The family is becoming an endangered species because fathers are leaving the family in droves . . . so why are the ones who are following God's plan publicly ignored on their special day? I suppose the answer to these questions will have to be filed away with questions like why Reba's horses live in a better house than I do, how can you tell when yogurt has gone bad, and why did Dracula stalk Christians who had crosses rather than Muslims and Jews who did not?

Please don't think that I am blaming Meacham's for the deterioration of the family unit. However, this is a symptom of a much larger ill . . .

. . . You see, Satan has a plan. If you kill the head, the body dies.. Separate the father from the home and the home will lose its strength. It seems that in our society, fathers are less respected than ever before. They are seen as silly old men who wander aimlessly around the house wondering, "where's your mother?"

The sad truth is that 80% of all fathers are either physically or emotionally estranged from their children. What has this done to our society? In 1994, 71% of the children born in Detroit were born out of wedlock. Tonight, enough teenagers to fill the Rose Bowl, Cotton Bowl, Sugar Bowl, Orange Bowl, Fiesta Bowl, and the average Super Bowl (450,000 teens) will practice prostitution to support a drug habit. Of all the 14 year old girls alive today, it is estimated that 40% will become pregnant before their 19th birthday. Every 78 seconds, a teenager in America attempts suicide. Our families need godly fathers more than ever before!

So to all who think that Father's Day is no big deal, you've missed the point. It may be true that the manly thing is to avoid being fussed over, but no father should ever doubt how much he is appreciated. Dads are not second-class parents!

• To be called Father -Nov 15, 1998
• Men of God -Nov 09, 1997
• Real Daddy -Aug 03, 1997
• Veto Power -Nov 06, 1996
• My Father's Car -Feb 05, 1995