rev_george_okoth_oturaBy Rev Okoth Otura

Every year the month of June is so significant to the fathers, following Ms Sonora Smart Dodd, a woman raised by a single widower father Mr William Jackson Smart who developed an idea of celebrating father’s day in 1910.

It is also important to consider the biblical aspects regarding fathers and their children, in the book of Ephesians 6:1-4 “Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.  Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.  And, ye fathers provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.”

It is known fact that father has to be the child’s provider and protector and a father relates to his children is to create an image of God in his children’s minds and understanding, and therefore fathers are obligated to provider for most love, education, warm and happy home.

Father’s role in children life is to be an encourager to them and to correct what is wrong but praise what is good.  

 Father has many and great responsibilities, must not be a cruel and harsh man and any father who is cruel or harsh or neglectful or emotionally withdrawn from his own children.

In the hand children too has a major role to play in father, child relationship as it is written in the book of Proverbs 6:20-23,  “My son, keeps thy father’s commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother:  Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck.  When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.  For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life.”

Children can only succeed in life only when they live Godly life as it wriiten in the book of Psalm 1:2-3, “But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.  And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his f ruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”

I hope this message will touch the hearts and unite the fathers with their children, may the God of Israel mightily bless you all.