K. Ela
“Bless the young new father, Lord – grinning, awed, proud and a little scared. Keep him always close to his child, Lord, as loving and tender as he is now, but strong enough to meet his child’s ever- growing demands. And help him really to enjoy these years- to laugh, talk, listen…to be a friend as well as a dad. Bless the dad in the midlle, Lord. The man who knows that raising kids isn’t just circuses and ballgames, but bills and braces, discipline and sometimes dissension. Ease his aching bones and his often aching heart. And, oh Lord, bless the old father, too. The one looking back. He may believe – wrongly – that he’s no longer needed. You, the Father of all, surely know how each of these fathers feels. Comfort them, Lord. And help us their sons and daughters, to show them that we love them and we feel very grateful that God gave us a glimpse of what He is really like – in them”. (Marjorie Holmes)
As I read through Marjorie’s beautiful prayer for all fathers, the thoughts of fathers (young fathers, not -so -young fathers, old fathers and fathers who are no more) that I know and fathers that I don’t know, come to my mind. I remember fathers whose children could get a glimpse of the ‘Father of all’ in them and are blessed and are a blessing to others around them. I also remember children who in spite of having the best ‘father, reflecting the image of the Father of all’ became a shame and pain to their fathers. Dear fathers, I know you forgive them anyway. I also remember fathers whose children could never get a glimpse of the ‘Father of all’ in them but went on to give their fathers a glimpse of a ‘perfect son’. If you are a father reading this prayer, ask yourself how many times your children gets to see a glimpse of the ‘Father of all’ in you. Give them a treat every day. Let them get to see at all times. And if you are a child reading this, thank your father for preparing you to give your children a glimpse of the ‘Father of all’ when you become a father one day. Good lessons learnt from a good father at home excel above all other lessons, paving the way for learning many other good lessons in life. But sadly, today in our society, there are many fathers who have destroyed themselves, destroyed their own children, and shattered their present, future, their everything. Dear children, forgive such fathers. Love them anyway. Father of all; bless all fathers and all fathers–to-be, may their children get to see a glimpse of You in their dear dad. Let the world be a better place for all their dear children and all other fatherless children who are looking for a glimpse of the ‘Father of all’ from all the fathers they meet along their life’s lonely journey.
