Father's Day: Ties and Tools

One of the best examples of a father in the scriptures is the story of the Prodigal Son written in Luke 15.  It is the story of a rebellious and wayward son who wastes his inheritance, and then when he has nothing, he returns to his father's house.  The Father of the boy, comes running out and embraces his son.  Hopefully I will one day be as loving of a Father as the one in that story.  

Father's day is this coming Sunday.  Its is the day that we honor and celebrate the fathers or father figures in our lives.  It is a day in which we remember and cherish the good times and forgive the bad.  I have an amazing father.  He has taught me work, respect, love, and has always been a continuing example of living a righteous life.  My Dad has always sacrificed so much for me so that I would be able to do the things I love.  I love and appreciated him for that. 

To those who maybe haven't had the best examples set by their fathers, there is still purpose in this coming Sunday.  Perhaps this Sunday can be the day in which we resolve to be the best Fathers we can, to be the father that you may not have had growing up.   

With all the emphasis on our earthly fathers, we had best not forget our Heavenly Father.  Surely He deserves a part in this celebration of fathers. Didn't He also sacrifice for us.  Regardless of our fathers here on earth, we all have a Father in Heaven who looks after us with that same love as the father in the story of the prodigal son.  He too awaits our arrival home.  Our Heavenly Father loved us so much that He gave His only begotten son so that we might be able to come back to Him.  He too has taught us so many of the important lessons that we have learned in this life.  It is from Him that every blessing flows.  I know that our Father in Heaven appreciates us when we have a heart full of gratitude.  So this Sunday, among the ties, tools, and time off, let us not forget to do the things that He would have us do.  Let us set a little time aside that day to kneel and give thanks for all that He has done for us.  Perhaps a goal to read more scriptures or pray more earnestly or attend church more often would be another gift that we could give Him.  

I am so grateful to both my earthly father and my Heavenly Father for everything they have done in my life and hope to one day be the father they were to me.

_Elder Halbert