Praise Those Fathers
Let us praise those fathers who have striven to balance the
demands of work, marriage, and children with an honest awareness of both joy
and sacrifice.
Let us praise those fathers who, lacking a good model for a
father, have worked to become a worthy and virtuous father.
Let us praise those fathers who, by their own account, were not always there for their children, but who continue to offer those children, now grown, their love and support. As well, let us pray for those fathers who have been wounded by words and actions of their children.
Let us praise those fathers who, despite marital discord, have remained in their children's lives.
Let us praise those fathers whose children are adopted, and whose love and support has nurtured a thriving life. Let us praise those fathers who, as stepfathers, freely choose the obligation of fatherhood and earned their step children's love and respect.
Let us praise those fathers who have lost a child to death, and continue to hold the child in their heart. Let us praise those men who have no children, but cherish the next generation as if they were their own. Let us praise those men who have "fathered" us in their role as mentors and guides.
Let us praise those men who are about to become fathers; may they openly delight in their children. And let us praise those fathers who have died, but live on in our memory and whose love continues to nurture us.
- Prayer of Kirk Loadman adapted
by Debra Mooney, PhD
God, Our Father
God, our Father Bless these men, that they may find strength
as fathers. Let the example of their faith and love shine forth. Grant that we,
their sons and daughters, may honor them always with a spirit of profound
respect.
We give our thanks, Creator God, for the fathers in our
lives. Fatherhood does not come with a manual, and reality teaches us that some
fathers excel while others fail. We ask for Your blessings for them all and
forgiveness where it is needed. This Father's Day we remember the many
sacrifices fathers make for their children and families, and the ways--both big
and small--they lift children to achieve dreams thought beyond reach. So too,
we remember all those who have helped fill the void when fathers pass early or
are absent; grandfathers and uncles, brothers and cousins, teachers, pastors
and coaches and the women of our families. For those who are fathers, we ask
for wisdom and humility in the face of the task of parenting. Give them the
strength to do well by their children and by You. In Your Holy name, O God, we
pray. Amen. - Rev. Chuck Currie
God took the strength of a mountain, The majesty of a tree, The
warmth of a summer sun, The calm of a quiet sea, The generous soul of nature, The
comforting arm of night, The wisdom of the ages, The power of the eagle's
flight, The joy of a morning in spring, The faith of a mustard seed, The
patience of eternity, The depth of a family need, Then God combined these
qualities, When there was nothing more to add, He knew His masterpiece was
complete, And so, He called it ... Dad - Author Unknown
Back to Top: Bless Our Fathers
Heavenly Father, Today we ask You to bless our earthly
fathers for the many times they reflected the love, strength, generosity,
wisdom and mercy that You exemplify in Your relationship with us, Your
children. We honor our fathers for putting our needs above their own
convenience and comfort; for teaching us to show courage and determination in
the face of adversity; for challenging us to move beyond self-limiting
boundaries; for modeling the qualities that would turn us into responsible,
principled, caring adults. Not all our fathers lived up to these ideals.
Give them the grace to acknowledge and learn from their mistakes. Give us the
grace to extend to them the same forgiveness that you offer us all. Help us to
resist the urge to stay stuck in past bitterness, instead, moving forward with
humility and peace of heart. We ask your blessing on those men who
served as father figures in our lives when our biological fathers weren't able
to do so. May the love and selflessness they showed us be returned to them in
all their relationships, and help them to know that their influence has changed
us for the better. Give new and future fathers the guidance they need to
raise happy and holy children, grounded in a love for God and other people - and
remind these fathers that treating their wives with dignity, compassion and
respect is one of the greatest gifts they can give their children. We
pray that our fathers who have passed into the next life have been welcomed
into Your loving embrace, and that our family will one be day be reunited in
your heavenly kingdom. In union with St. Joseph, whom you entrusted with
Your Son, we ask Your generous blessings today and every day. Amen. - Tony
Rossi
Heavenly Father, you entrusted your Son Jesus, the child of
Mary, to the care of Joseph, an earthly father. Bless all fathers as they care
for their families. Give them strength and wisdom, tenderness and patience; support
them in the work they have to do, protecting those who look to them, as we look
to you for love and salvation, through Jesus Christ our rock and defender.
Amen.
***
in Your wisdom and love You have made all things.
Bless these men,
that they may be strengthened as Christian fathers.
Let the example of their faith and love shine forth.
Grant that we, their sons and daughters,
may honor them always
with a spirit of profound respect.
Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen
As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him;
My son, do not despise the LORD’s discipline and do not resent His rebuke, because the LORD disciplines those He loves, as a father the son he delights in.
Listen to your father, who gave you life,
and do not despise your mother when she is old.
Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord
Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.
Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?
If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him!
And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”
And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.
“God, we have heard with our ears, our fathers have told us, what deeds You performed in their days, in the days of old:”
“Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of children is their fathers.”
“For if a man know not how to rule his own house,
how shall he take care of the Church of God?”
“Direct your children onto the right path,
and when they are older, they will not leave it.”
“The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.”
For I have chosen him, that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing righteousness and justice, so that the LORD may bring to Abraham what He has promised him.”
Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.
For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the Faith which is in Christ Jesus.
