Father’s Day Message

Michael Lee: Father’s Day Message

On Father’s day at CDC, Michael Lee gave a very personal message on fatherhood. Based on the text of the Prodigal Son, Michael started off by referring to three types of fathers common in the world today, all of which can have detrimental effects on their children.

Firstly, there is the Distant Father. Typical of many Chinese families, the distant father hardly talks or communicates with his children. He sees his main duty as only providing for the family. There’s no real relationship with the children, with only mono-syllabic conversation. He can be in the same room as his son but as distant as another planet. His children may well develop relationship and communication problems in the future with their own spouse and children.

Secondly, there is the Overindulgent Father. He caters for his son’s every need and fancy, and pretty much does everything for him. In the end, he will only raise, spoilt, spineless children who cannot stand up to the challenge when the going gets tough. The best tuitions and teachers may get them the best grades, but life’s true lessons will show who really has the faith!

Finally, there is the Abusive Father. Some are physically abusive fathers, who belong in jail. Most however are emotionally abusive fathers, who abuse their children with demeaning words, insults, and curses. Their children may develop serious self-esteem problems, with high inferiority complex and poor confidence.

Looking now at the story of the Prodigal Son, we are told the sorry tale of how one son demanded his inheritance of his father and squandered it abroad in foreign lands. Broke, and hungry, abandoned by his new found “friends”, the prodigal son decided to return home and seek mercy from his father as a common servant. However, the loving Father ran to meet him even before he could say anything. This powerful picture shows us the great love of God who runs to embrace every one of his beloved Children who come back to him, no matter what they’ve done. The Lord’s forgiveness and love is always open to all who will come back to Him. In our families, we too must learn to be affectionate and loving, not distant and abusive. We need to spend time with our children and be careful that we do not ridicule or put them down. We need to learn to encourage and affirm them.

Another side of the loving Father is seen in his handling of his other son. Although loyal and obedient to his father all these years, he felt aggrieved that His younger brother should get such loving treatment for his “sins” while he never received a reward anything close for his faithful service. The Father exhorted himself in to understand the big picture. What was truly important? Firstly, he was always with the Father, most important was their precious relationship. Secondly, he was heir to everything the Father owned. In view of their close relationship and his great inheritance, there was little reason for the older brother to feel aggrieved, but instead he should share in the joy of his brother’s repentance. A truly loving Father does not merely submit to all his son’s wishes and complaints. A truly loving Father teaches his son what is truly important. In life, we need to learn to carry our own load and teach our children to do the same. A schoolkid should carry his own schoolbag, it is his load to carry…. Love without proper guidance and discipline is not truly love at all.

God bless,

Jason