Every Day is FATHER'S DAY

Fathers have a job to do,

thought I’d mention it here to you.

Raising your kids, helping your wife,

avoiding impatience and strife; 

Keep on smiling as your words you say —

it’s your challenge every day.

Notice other people too;

do they set an example for you?

Every day it’s God’s Word you read;

This is a blessing each of us need. 

“Nobody’s perfect,” you’ll hear it said,

but keep working to improve, tell your head. 

The LORD empowers you to think and do —

the Bible’s promises apply to YOU. 

So this is how to start each day,

Bow your head, and sincerely pray. 

Father’s Day 

is really every day !

God loves you, 

and that is true !

by Elaine Hardt ©2018

Idea for You for Father's Day

        Here comes Father's Day.  Here's an idea you could use for your family.  See if you remember, see if your kids remember . . . 

Your father's name and date of birth

Where he lived:

How long he lived:

Remember his occupations:

Think about any illness or physical problems he has or had:

Remember his wife, the children:

Recall what he believed about God: 

Your grandfather's name, date of birth & date of death, if he has already died

Where he lived:

How long he lived:

Remember his occupations:

Think about any illness or physical problems he has or had:

Remember his wife, the children:

Recall what he believed about God: 

On Father’s Day give the LORD thanks for His blessings on the family you came from. + + + 

by Elaine Hardt ©2018

Father's Day Blessing

                Men want recognition and respect. Here’s mine for you.

Being a good father was always a hard job.
And if you did all the things the Bible said you should do, it was even harder. God always asks us to do impossible things.
And for good reason; so we’ll find out what our human limitations are.
This is so that we will relinquish control over our lives to Him, and let Him be our Savior and Boss.
Being a man has lots of advantages, but even those advantages might slow us down from humbling ourselves to come to God.
Best deal is to take it like a man.
God wants to be that Perfect Father that you never had. He wants to take you to Heaven for Eternity.
What’s so hard about that?
Well, for one thing, there’s this humility stuff,
Then asking forgiveness and expressing love,
It’s not exactly every man’s vocabulary, but, it’s worth it.

Here’s to all the men who are fathers,
Do the right thing. You can trust God to give you the straight scoop.
I appreciate you and your many good qualities
so this is not like criticism,
just a reminder that Departure Day is coming for all of us, and there’s a choice to be made.
Already know Jesus? Good for you.

          HAPPY FATHER’S DAY and many more happy days, besides. 

by Elaine Hardt ©2000

When Holidays H-U-R-T !!!

     Gifts!  cards, parties, family dinners! Name any holiday, the stores are decorated and merchandise abounds. You can’t escape it! But not everyone can anticipate an enjoyable celebration.

     Many men and women have hurt feelings about holidays; most will keep their emotions under careful control.  Here comes Christmas; how do you feel about that? 
        Father’s Day might bring up some unhappy memories.  Mother’s Day, Memorial Day, Thanksgiving and even New Year's Eve may stir up old baggage that lingers on, every year again wounding the soul.

        Going to church on a holiday may make things worse, if all you’ll hear are platitudes and detailed examples of the perfect dad or the perfect mom or the perfect family.  If a greeting card is too “sweet” or too sarcastic that can hurt.  

      If you wince at the approach of some particular occasion don’t continue in this pattern; there’s a breakthrough for you.  If you are a relative of someone who dislikes certain observances there may be things you can do to ease the situation.

A person needs a strategy.

       Give yourself permission to take a few moments here. Step back from the immediate circumstances and take a dispassionate look at it. 

A Time to Remember Your Father

       Every day is Father's Day, so any day will do,
       Let's reclaim those past memories, too.

        Well, the poem started out without much help from me.  But the "official" Father's Day is past, and Dad's not here.  But looking through some old photos was a good excursion into the past.  My first thoughts were about him, but later my thoughts were about you -- friends, relatives, readers of this blog.  For each of us growing up was a challenge.  Then having our own children was another challenge.  Now, watching the grandkids growing up.  Years do fly by!  
       The one closing thought is for prayer.  No matter who or where you are, pray for better communication with your family.  Pray for wisdom, ability, strength. 
        Our Heavenly Father loves each of us.  A personal relationship with Him means we've owned up to our sins and weaknesses, we've asked to be forgiven. Now life has wonderful opportunities, empowered by His Holy Spirit.  So celebrate every day in some meaningful way, starting with prayer.  

by Elaine Hardt ©2014

Remembering Your Dad

       Don’t let the wrappings of the holiday delay your opening of the package.  There’s something inside that dad gave you.  
For however long you had your dad there were happenings, both small and huge, words said to you, conversations engaged with you, activities demonstrated, activities shared.      
      You heard others talk about him. 
And you asked questions.  From the sweetly innocent childish ones to the more probing questions as you were growing up. 
Today for a few minutes longer, remember your dad.
Photos will help you remember dad.  Used to be big albums stacked in the buffet shelves, then so much easier to view via cellphone and computer. Maybe now posted on social media for the whole world to see.  
What’s inside the holiday awaits your own caring and private view.
Maybe after today’s sports event, the parade downtown, the Father’s Day special at the diner, a stroll through the mall for holiday bargains . . . Well, maybe after the doings of the day you’ll claim some quiet time alone.
Remember your dad.  What he said to do, and how to do it.  Warnings that you heard and saw.  Maybe even examples of what not to do, or what not to say: cause and effect.  
There were times for you to give forgiveness and kindness.  Did he set the example?  
Just for a little longer now, remember your dad.   

1. Places you went with your dad.
2. Songs you heard him sing.
3. Old time sayings you heard him repeat.
4. His favorite things to eat.
5. His jokes.
6. His compliments to you.
7. His compliments to others.
8. The last time he hugged you.
9. The last words you remember saying to him.
10. The last time you went to church together.

      Now, give thanks to your Heavenly Father for His great love.  All of life gives us lessons to learn.  You do want to do your best with the life the LORD has given you.  Do you have a favorite Bible verse about love?
      Remember your dad;  remember your Heavenly Father.   

by Elaine Hardt ©2013

Lost and Found on Father's Day

     Sunday morning at 6:10 a.m. the doorbell rang, followed by a banging on the front room window.  It was to be a Father’s Day like none other. 

      My husband and I were in the kitchen getting ready for breakfast. I got to the window first.  I looked out to see a little old man standing there on the front porch.  Don was right behind me as I opened the door.

      The elderly man was clad in pajama bottoms, a sweatshirt and white stockings.  He had walked through damp grass and gravel. He had been walking, he said, to get away from those crazy people. A lady was going to shoot him with a gun.  

      Don quickly brought out a big folding camp chair from the closet, and we seated our visitor outside on the front porch.  Don went in to phone 911, while I sat on the porch step and held conversation.  He told me his name was Lawrence Fisher and recited an address in Pinetop.  He said there were sick people in that house; they were all crazy.

      I figured out that he’d walked down our street from the Alzheimer adult care home that housed 7 or 8 residents around the corner on Surrey Way.  Who knows how long he had been wandering around.  For some unexplained reason he picked out our house from the others; here he was safe.  And he needed to talk. 

Seven Suggestions for Father's Day

Father’s Day is nearly here,
It comes around again this year.
You might not find a fancy card in time,
And it’s not easy to write a rhyme!

A present might not be his size,
All of this you realize.
Watch for some occasion when you can say
some kind word to brighten a father’s day.

Here's 7 suggestions -- sentence starters -- for that note you'll write to Dad . . .