I think any Father would agree that the greatest Gift we could ever receive is to see our children grow up to be happy, healthy and productive adults. My adult son has a real knack for giving creative and unique gifts on Father's Day. He never asks me what I want ahead of time. Instead, he manages to present me with a gift that completely surprises me and is something that I not only treasure, but use regularly.
Of all the awesome gifts I have received from my son over the years, I can say that the Greatest Gift he has ever given me is watching him grow up to be a happy, healthy and productive adult. I swell with pride as I observe this young man model a very strong work ethic that is uncommon among his peers. He is a deep thinker and is passionate about life. He is a loyal friend and has a heart for the underdog. As he has ventured out on his own I am thankful that the years we have spent pouring into him have paid off.
On this Father's Day I want to challenge all fathers to change our focus on how we approach this holiday. Instead of celebrating a day of by getting gifts, let's make it a day of giving gifts to our children. I'm not talking about material gifts bought from a store and wrapped in paper. I'm talking about something much more powerful and lasting. I'm talking about giving the gift of servanthood to our kids. Let's take this Father's Day thing to a whole new level and make it about them. Instead of sitting on the couch, watching sports or going golfing, and being waited on, what would happen if we found creative ways to serve our kids today that would pour into them?
This is what Jesus did and modeled for us. The One who deserves to be served and the one who is worthy of our gifts went out of his way to to serve us instead. Matthew 20:28 says that Christ came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. That is what Father's Day is really all about. It shouldn't be about getting gifts, but rather, giving them. The greatest gift we can give our children is the gift of Christ-like character in us. What does that look like? It looks life this from Philippians 2:
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled himself.
The mark of a great father is not having authority, being a disciplinarian, being wise, or being respected. The real mark of a great father is being a servant. That is the greatest gift you can not only give your children, but that can be passed on to them. I'm not suggesting that we stop getting gifts on Father's Day. What I am suggesting is that instead of merely making it a day about us, we make it a day about them. That is when we will capture the true essence of fatherhood on this holiday.
Happy Father's Day! Or I should say, "Happy Servant's Day!"
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