For Sunday, June 17th, 2012

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

JUNE 17TH,  2012

If you can't see the Bright Side, polish the dull side

It's SUNDAY!  

HAPPY FATHERS DAY!

A Fathers Day Prayer 

 

Father, we ask that you bless those fathers who have striven to balance the demands of work, marriage, and children with an honest awareness of both joy and sacrifice. Let us praise those fathers who, lacking a good model for a father, have worked to become a good father.

Father, we ask that you bless those fathers who by their own account were not always there for their children, but who continue to offer those children, now grown, their love and support. Let us pray for those fathers who have been wounded by the neglect and hostility of their children.

Father, we ask that you bless those fathers who, despite divorce,have remained in their children's lives. Let us praise those fathers whose children are adopted, and whose love and support has offered healing.

Father, we ask that you bless those fathers who, as stepfathers, freely choose the obligation of fatherhood and earned their step children's love and respect. Let us praise those fathers who have lost a child to death, and continue to hold the child in their heart.

Father, we ask that you bless those men who have no children, but cherish the next generation as if they were their own.

Father, we ask that you bless those men who have fathered us in their role as mentors and guides.

Father, we ask that you bless those men who are about to become fathers; may they openly delight in their children.

And Father, we ask that you bless those fathers who have died, but live on in our memory and whose love continues to nurture us. 

One night a father overheard his son pray: Dear God, Make me the kind of man my Daddy is. Later that night, the Father prayed, Dear God, Make me the kind of man my son wants me to be.

Anonymous

NEWS FROM HOME

A father carries pictures where his money used to be.  

Author Unknown

The pictures today are of my sons and DSIL and all their children. 

 I wish you all a very Happy Fathers Day!

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT

CREATING FATHERS

When the good Lord was creating fathers, He started with a tall frame.  A female angel nearby said, What kind of father is that?  If you're going to make children so close to the ground why have you put fathers up so high?  He won't be able to shoot marbles without kneeling, tuck a child in bed without bending or even kiss a child without stooping.  

And God smiled and said, Yes, but if I make him child size, who would children have to look up to?

And when God made a father's hands, they were large and sinewy.  The angel shook her head sadly and said, Large hands are clumsy.  They can't manage diaper pins, small buttons, rubber bands on ponytails or eve remove splinters caused by sticks used as baseball bats.

And God smiled and said, I know, but they're large enough to hold everything a small boy empties from his pockets at the end of a day, yet small enough to cup a child's face.

And then God molded long, slim legs and broad shoulders.  The angel nearly had a heart attack.  Boy, this is the end of the week, all right, she clucked.  Do you realize you just made a father without a lap.  How is he going to pull a child close to him without the kid falling between his legs?

And God smiled and said, A mother needs a lap.  A father needs strong shoulders to pull a sled, balance a boy on a bicycle or hold a sleepy head on the way home from the circus.

God was in the middle of creating two of the largest feet anyone had ever seen, when the angel could contain herself no longer.  That is not fair.  Do you honestly think those large boats are going to dig out of bed early in the  morning when the baby cries?  Or walk through a small birthday party without crushing at least three of the guests.

And God smiled and said,  They'll work.  You'll see.  They'll support a small child who wants to rid a horse to Banbury Cross or scare off mice at the summer cabin or display shoes that will be a challenge to fill.

God worked on, giving the father few words, but a firm authoritative voice and eyes that saw everything, but remained calm and tolerant.  Finally, almost as an afterthought, He added tears.  Then He turned to the angel and said, Now, are you satisfied that he can love as much as a mother?

The angel shutteth up...

This originally appeared in a newspaper column by Erma Bombeck

PRAYER FOR OUR TROOPS

Please pray for God's protection of

our troops and HIS wisdom for

their commanders.

Lord, hold our troops in

your loving hands.

Protect them as they protect us.

Bless them and their families for the

selfless acts they perform for us

in our time of need. I ask this in the

name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior

.

AND bless our Police Officers, Firefighters

and Paramedics and EMT's

GOD BLESS YOU ALL!

COUNTING THE DAYS

The most important thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother. 

 Henry Ward Beecher

 

3 DAYS UNTIL SUMMER

Celebrate the happiness
that friends are always giving,
make every day a holiday,
and celebrate just living!

Amanda Bradley

 

A little smile, a word of cheer,
A bit of love from someone dear…

Love,

ma