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We have just observed Father’s Day this past weekend and in my studies for the week’s lesson I discovered that it has its origin very near to the time of Mother’s Day. Mother’s Day was “officially” recognized by Presidential proclamation in 1914 and 52 years later Father’s Day received the same recognition and designation for the 3rd Sunday in June. Not to be outdone, Grandparents Day has been established the first Sunday following Labor Day by a proclamation by President Jimmy Carter in 1978 following the campaign Marian McQuade began in 1973 to set aside a day to recognize grandparents.
Please don’t misunderstand, I have no problem with honoring those who have led their families through life’s good times and bad times, who are there loving and cherishing their children during times of rebellion as well as obedience and respect. What I have a problem with is the necessity of “establishing”, by human authority, a day for honoring those for whom honor is due. As always if we will only respect the Word of God for what it is and says, and then practice it, we would have no need for a Mother’s Day or a Father’s Day or even a Grandparent’s Day.
In Exodus 20:12 we find the words of God Himself saying “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be prolonged in the land which the LORD your God gives you.” (NAS) What more do we need? A special day set aside for this? Maybe we give more power to those who suggested these days than we give God Almighty! Friends and neighbors when will we wake up? God is not mocked and we will reap what we sow. He says “Honor your parents” every day, not just a particular day of the year. What we practice makes void the word of God much the way Jesus describes in Matthew 15:4-9.
June 20, 2004 isn’t the only day in 2004 that fathers are to be honored any more than only honoring mothers on May 9th or grandparents on September 12th. If we truly desire to follow the will of God we don’t need a special day because God, the Original Father, who deserves our greatest honor, has said to always honor our fathers and mothers. This is an area I’m sure we all agree we need to work on and improve, Amen?
Copyright © 2004, Nolan P. Rutter