Tag: Father’s Day

The greatest lesson I ever learned about faith, I learned from my Father.  I had accidentally sailed a balsa wood glider up onto the roof of our home in Houston.  When my Dad came home, instead of getting a ladder and climbing up to retrieve it, he picked me up and boosted me onto the roof so I could get it myself.  We lived in a 1950's era "ranch style" house, so the roof wasn't actually that far off the ground, at least to my dad, who was 6' 4" tall.  I had never been on the roof before.  It was frightening – mostly the getting up.

When I began to express my fear, Dad said, "Don't worry.  I won't let you fall."  His hands and arms felt strong, his voice was firm and confident.  He had been on the roof himself.  He believed I would be okay.  So, I forgot my fear.  My trust in him was stronger than my fears and Dad didn't let me fall.

I found my faith. Through the experience of trusting, I discovered that my Dad was trustworthy.

I have been able to live my life with an abiding faith, often tested by the things that test everybody's faith.  It goes back to that glider on the roof, my Dad's strong and loving arms, his reassuring voice, and his dependable promise, "I won't let you fall."

That has made it easier for me to trust my heavenly Father, who promised, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."  Earthly parents, though fallible, have a role to play in the formation of faith in their children's lives.  In fact, parents are the primary faith-givers.  Christian parents' chief evangelical, disciple-making opportunity is with their children.

Even helping a child retrieve a toy stuck on the roof can be an occasion for faith-forming.  The world needs dads to give their children a fear-conquering faith.  Of course, Moms do it too.  But this is Father's Day!