IN HONOR OF ALL FATHERS PRESENT AND PAST

People have all sorts of relationships with their parents, some great and some not so great. Putting any issues aside, no one can disagree that our existence comes from a father and a mother, who each also had father’s and mother’s and so forth back to the beginning of human existence. So then, this chain of parentage going back to the origin of human life has great significance. It may even hold a key to our purpose and our personal contribution to life.

Like it or not, you were born with a specific inheritance from your parents, grandparents and as far back as Adam and Eve. Part of what you were gifted is very obvious such as your race, nationality, your looks, etc.  Some of your inheritance might be hidden in your personality. Even some of your likes and dislikes can be traced to previous generations. I was very surprised one day recently when I read some documents that described one of my ancestors as being a shipbuilder who traveled the world and also collected precious stones as a hobby. All my life I’ve been attracted to and involved with boats, traveling, and I collect rough gemstones as a hobby. Now I know where these tendencies come from.

Inheritance is for Better or Worse

You might have inherited a fortune, great health and stamina, or a deep heart; or you might have inherited poverty, genetic predispositions to illnesses, and a grumpy disposition. Whatever has been handed down from the past is yours to deal with. It’s your life but your life has come with a huge package full of interesting things to play with, puzzles to figure out, challenges to overcome and clues for your success. It can be a great adventure, or you can whine and complain while wishing you had someone else’s luck.

That is why the 5th of the 10 commandments tells us:

“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the LORD your God is giving you.” – Exodus 20:2-17

Apparently people needed to be reminded of this. It’s one of those clues for success that comes with the package. Because not honoring, being whiny and complaining, or disrespectful is a waste of energy and time. It’s like spinning in circles and not accomplishing much, trying to reinvent something that you’re clueless about.

Through honoring parents, focusing on the good, and appreciating all that they are and have done we can learn from them. A child knows little about their father’s struggles and suffering, and even far less about their grandfather or great grandfather. But by honoring and appreciating we put ourselves in a position to be united in heart, and through this unity we can gain insight.

Honor, Learn, and Invest Wisely

We need to learn from our elders and our forefathers so we can build with what they’ve given us.

Good or bad we can learn from the past so we can do better. Whatever mistakes have been made are like signposts telling us to watch out. The accomplishments of our fathers and forefathers are like a Trust and we are the Trustees. Will we invest wisely so that we too can leave a Trust Fund for our children that helps them build a better future and a better world?

The world of heart we seek to build is so different from the culture we live in today. To become the best we can be and usher in a new age we need to rise above the noise and glitter that tantalizes our physical senses and distracts our sensibility. If we care about the past and the future we need to be mindful of our thoughts and choices is the present. Honor the past and consider the future, there is still much to learn and do and there is so much untapped potential.

The Father’s Gift 

God as our Heavenly Parent invested everything to create an everlasting Trust Fund, the Universe, for our inheritance. Life is our opportunity to do good with what we’ve been given. Honor through words and deeds the gift of life; the gift of possibility, potential and promise; the gift of learning, growth and discovery; the gift of continuing a legacy.

Thank you Heavenly Parent. May God Bless all fathers to know their value on this Father’s Day.