Counseling
June 2011
by Donna Ridge

Counseling – June 2011

Happy Fathers Day! On Mother‟s Day I had the privilege to bring a message about mothers to the congregation. I would like to take the opportunity to speak to the Fathers. The same does apply to you.  Even though the child is not formed in you that child has half of your DNA.

Not being a man or a father, I can only speak about what I‟ve heard. Often I am told that fathers are disappointed in the sons because they have no athletic ability or do not want to take over a family business that the father has worked so hard at. Again I defer to scripture. Proverbs 22:6 “Raise up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he shall not depart from it.”

The key is the way he should go. We all have aspirations for our children. What are God‟s plans for them? As a child grows we may begin to see their "bent". It may be something foreign to us.  Remember we come from generations of families not just those we know about. Perhaps there were family members who probably prayed for the future generations.

For example my immediate family was not particularly “religious”. I was not encouraged to attend Sunday school or church, but there was something inside me that drew me to the Lord. My mother said that my grandfather‟s families were very religious Methodists. My aunt on my biological father‟s side told me that she had a great aunt in the area that was an evangelist. Someone prayed for me that‟s for sure. That‟s why I pray for the generations to come that they would know the Lord and walk in His ways.

Sorry I know I‟m digressing here. My point is that God knows the plans He has for all of us and all of us need to accept the uniqueness of each other. We cannot compare our children, our spouse or others to someone we think has it all together. Believe me; no one has it all together. Let us walk in love and acceptance for how God has formed us. For those whose children are not going on a good path all I can say if that we have to do our best to guide them back to the right path and pray, pray, pray.  God loves them far more than we do even though we might think that‟s impossible.

Again Fathers, have a happy Father‟s day!

Donna Ridge