Father's Day

We live in a day of equal rights, equal time, it’s only fair that fathers get equal attention! Just over a month ago mothers were standing in the spotlight. Now ladies move over, men your turn!

Only in recent years have we in The Salvation Army observed Father’s Day although we have been celebrating Mother’s Day for many years. Here we follow the Americans by keeping the third Sunday in June. In Australia and New Zealand it is 15^th September. In the Roman Catholic tradition, Father’s Day is celebrated on St. Joseph’s Day 19^th March, though in most countries Father’s Day is a secular celebration.

Mrs. John B Dodd (Sonora Smart) of Washington first proposed the idea of Father’s Day in 1909. She wanted a special day to honour her father William Smart, a civil war veteran. His wife died when giving birth to her sixth child. Mr. Smart was left to bring up the six children by himself in a rural farm in eastern Washington State.

It was after her daughter Sonora became an adult that she realised the strength and selflessness of her father had in raising his children as a single parent. She was inspired by Anna Jarvis’ efforts to establish Mother’s Day. Mrs. Dodd originally suggested 5^th June the anniversary date of her father’s death. She did not provide the organisers with enough time to make arrangements, so the celebration was deferred to the third Sunday in June.

The first Father’s Day was observed on 19^th June 1910 in Spokane, Washington. At about the same time in various towns across America, others were celebrating ‘father’s day’ In 1924 President Calvin Coolidge supported the idea of a national Father’s Day. Finally in 1966, President Lyndon Johnson signed a presidential proclamation declaring third Sunday in June as Father’s Day.

Father’s Day has become a day to not only honour your father, but all men who act as a father figure – stepfathers, uncles, grandfathers and adult male friends are all honoured on Father’s Day.

For children, regardless of age, if you have parents honour them for the Bible tells us, ‘Honour your father and mother, for this is right.’ It accords with natural law. Every culture agrees that it is right and proper for children to respect and obey their parents. It is not only right in the eyes of society to honour our parents; it is also right in the eyes of God.

We thank our fathers for material provision (1 Tim. 5: 8) faithful instruction (Ephesians 6: 4) and godly influence (1 Cor. 11: 1). Fathers, seek the grace of God to live up to Biblical expectations.

I’m taking a rest, sit in the congregation at our own Corps (church) – William Booth Corps and just enjoy the meeting on Father’s Day. By the way, I believe there is a Grandparents; Day and it falls on 8^th September. I don’t think it is observed here in Singapore.

Sunday to me is important for it is the Lord’s Day! We respect our parents, but the One we truly worship is the Lord!