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.
- Author Unknown
Fathers in Our Lives
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
Strength of a Mountain
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
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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
A Prayer for Christian Fathers
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.
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.
