Father’s Day—a day we celebrate our dads, step-dads, grandfathers, and all men who are father figures in our lives. While the origins of Father’s Day are disputed, it was first celebrated in 1908 in West Virginia, and in 1910 in Spokane, Washington. Both celebrations were aimed at honoring fathers in much the same way as we honor mothers for Mother’s Day. It took a while for the country to officially adopt the holiday, but retailers quickly advertised the third Sunday in June as Father’s Day. Several presidents supported it as an official holiday, but it was not until 1972 that President Nixon signed it into law. By then it had already become the second largest gift-buying holiday for men behind Christmas.

No More Ward Cleaver

As families have changed over the years, so have the roles of fathers. Most families today do not look like the Cleavers in Leave It to Beaver. While many children have fathers who are actively engaged in their lives, others have absent fathers due to deployments, divorce, or other painful circumstances. It is true that families have changed, and family life in general has become more complicated. This is why it is more important than ever to honor the fathers and father figures in our lives.

God, Our Father

Whether our father is present or absent, we all have a heavenly Father available to us. The God revealed in the Bible is described as much more powerful than mere mortals. God has the wisdom, power, and presence to order the universe. Yet from the beginning God revealed father-like qualities of love, discipline, forgiveness, and generosity with everyone from Adam to Paul. Just like the people of the Bible, every human being can have a deeply personal and loving relationship with our all-powerful God. We celebrate our earthly fathers today, but we can also grow in our relationship with our heavenly Father by relying on God’s unfailing love.

Question of the Day: How are you spending Father's Day?

Talk Topic Scriptures: Hosea 11:1-12; Romans 8:9-17; Ephesians 6:1-4

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