Showing posts with label Father's Day. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Father's Day. Show all posts

Sunday, June 17, 2012

A Father's Day Message

Today on Father's Day I pray that I become a better husband for my wife and a better father to my children. The Lord knows that I have lots of room for improvement.  I pray that I am a good Christian example for my children, and that I help lead them to holiness and not lead them astray.  I also pray in thanksgiving for my father, John.  He has been and continues to be a great example for me.  Dad - Thank you!  I love you so much!  I also want to thank my Grandfathers, especially Grandpa Duquaine, who is now suffering from cancer.  I have so many great memories from childhood through the present of Grandpa Duquaine.  He sure knows how to tell great stories.  His time on earth may not be much longer, but I know that he will live forever with God in heaven when his time does come. What a wonderful and holy Christian man is my Grandpa Duquaine.  Grandpa, I love you and my prayers are with you.  If you read this, I selfishly ask that you keep me in your prayers as well.  (We all can use prayer especially from good and holy people such as my Grandpa.)

Don't forget to wish your priests a happy Father's Day as well as they are our spiritual fathers.  Please keep all fathers in your prayers.  The role of fathers in the family is being diminished by our culture today, but fathers are absolutely necessary for raising good and well rounded children.  Children need a positive male influence in their lives and need that love of a father.  We have a great responsibility to our children, fathers, to be spiritual leaders in our families.  Let us never forget this great responsibility.  Our actions or inactions can have a great impact on not just ourselves but on our children and family.  Be a great Christian example for your children by what you say and most importantly by how you live.  Love God and teach your children to do the same.  Happy Father's Day!

God bless,

Mike

Sunday, June 19, 2011

One Quick Minute - Father's Day










One Quick Minute - Father's Day

First and foremost we give glory and honor to God the Father, our creator and maker of all good things.  We should praise him always, but especially on Father's day!

Sunday, June 15, 2008

Happy Father's Day!

Today is Father's Day. When I think of Father's Day of course I first think about my father, but I think of several other fathers. I think about both of my grandfathers. I think about my father-in-law. I think about my older brother who is now a father. I think about my cousins Brent and David who are fathers of infant children. I think about Joseph, the earthly father figure for Jesus. I think about the many priests who are the fathers of the one church. I think about myself and hope that one day I too will be a father. I think about what it means to be a father and what are fathers' responsibilities. I don't worry about whether or not I'll be a good father because I have such a great example to follow.

A father's main responsibility is to protect his wife and his children. This means not only to protect them from physical harm, but to protect them from the evils of the world and to protect his children's soul. To this day I remember one thing my father said to me when I was a teenage boy that has stuck in my mind forever. He said to me, "The one thing I fear the most is that one of my children won't join me in heaven." It could have been possible for me to take this comment the wrong way and think that he suggests that I am a bad kid and I needed to change, but I took it as my father meant it because I knew then and I have always known that my dad loves me. This comment I will never forget and will always remind me about how a father should love his children. My dad did not fear about having 8 children. He did not fear financial difficulties. He did not fear about his job nor did he fear death itself. His fear was out of concern for me, my brothers and sisters, my mom and our spiritual wellbeing. He knew that the worries of this world are not as important as our goal to reach heaven. He has shown that his love is completely selfless and deep. He does not just love me now, but forever. He has been an amazing example to me and my siblings.

Growing up I was always a little bit of a mamma's boy. I'd go to mom whenever I had arguments with my brothers or when I wasn't feeling good. My mom has always been good at showing and expressing her love to me. My dad showed me his love in a different way, in a way that I didn't fully appreciate until I was out of the house. In recent years and as I mature I begin to realize that I needed my dad's love and spiritual guidance more than I ever knew. If I could go back in time, I would not change one thing about my dad or how he raised me. I hope that I can one day be like him. Being a father is a big responsibility. Being a father might mean censoring the internet or television so that your kids aren't exposed to sinful garbage. A good father may not always please their children, but a good father will always love his wife and children unconditionally. A good father will do everything in his power to help his children to reach heaven. Isn't that what we are all called to do? Like I said before, I think about lots of fathers, many I have seen who are great examples for their children and today I thank all you fathers. I thank you dad for everything. You're the best ever! People can't imagine how blest my family is and how little problems we have. The reason my family is so loving and happy is because my father has been a great example and his father and my mother's father were great examples before them. Behind every great person is some other great person who had a huge influence on them. My dad is my hero. My dad is my example when I someday become a father. Dad, I love you! God Bless you all and do something nice for your father!