To be a father

I have this material for the longest time and now it makes even more sense to me than years ago. Now, do not take this too seriously as this story is totally theologically challenged, but it provides something for us to think about. This is called the CREATION 101.

God created the mule, and told him, “You are a mule. You will work  constantly from dusk to dawn, carrying heavy loads on your back. You will eat grass and lack intelligence. You will live for 50 years.” The mule answered, “To live like this for 50 years is too much. Please, give me no more than 20.” And it was so.

Then God created the dog, and told him, “You are dog. You will hold vigilance over the dwellings of Man, to whom you will be his greatest companion. You will eat his table scraps and live for 25 years.” The dog responded, “Lord, to live 25 years as a dog like that is too much. Please, no more than 10 years.” And it was so.

God then created the monkey, and told him, “You are monkey. You  shall swing from tree to tree, acting like an idiot. You will be funny, and you shall live for 20 years.” The monkey responded, “Lord, to live 20  years as the clown of the world is too much. Please, Lord, give me no more than 10 years.”

And it was so.

Finally, God created Man and told him, “You are Man, the only rational being that walks the earth. You will use your intelligence to have mastery over the creatures of the world. You will dominate the earth and live for 20 years.”

The man responded, “Lord, to be Man for only 20 years is too little.

Please, Lord; give me the 20 years the mule refused, the 15 years the dog refused, and the 10 years the monkey rejected.”

And so, God made Man to live 20 years as a man, then marry and live 20 years like a mule working and carrying heavy loads on his back. Then, he is to have children and live 15 years as a dog, guarding his house and eating the leftovers after they empty the pantry; then, in his old age, to live 10 years as a monkey, acting like an idiot to amuse his grandchildren.

And it is so...

Seems like this is the story of life, isn’t it?

Many fathers would identify with this. Works like a mule, guards the house and the children like a very reliable and faithful dog that now acts like a monkey to his grandchildren. If you are not yet in this stage and you promise yourself that you would not do this, you may be in for a big surprise.

My father passed a couple of years ago at the age of 86. My mother passed this year at 86 too. Their lives have not been comfortable but they did their best to raise us kids well.

Raising up the kids and building a family is not all about providing food, shelter, home, and all the creature comforts money can provide; it is important to raise up children according to God’s ways and admonition, for as the Scriptures would say, “Train up a child in the way he should go,^[a]and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” (NIV). But, the message is as important as the integrity of the messenger, and this is why a spiritual father who practices what he preaches is the best father that can raise godly children.

Steve Farrar, popular author of the book “Standing Tall” says: “A godly father is the unseen spiritual submarine who lurks below the surface of every activity of his child’s life. A man who has put on the full armor of God, and with that armor goes to warfare on his knees for his children, is a force to be reckoned with. We cannot be with our children 24 hours a day, through our prayers we have the ability to affect situations even when we are not physically present. You may be undetected, but that does not mean you are ineffective.”

Clarence Budington-Kelland says, “My father didn’t tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it.” The contrary to this is not so good. This is why Adlai Stevenson says: “It has been said that paternity is a career imposed on you without any inquiry into your fitness for it. That is why there are so many fathers who have children, but so few children who have fathers.”
This should not be.

There are so many successful business people I know who are godly fathers, and they not only just preach the Good News, they live it and they show it. They are raising kids who will themselves become godly parents when their time comes. They do a lot more modeling than mandating and preaching.

So, to all the fathers out there, allow me to greet you a Happy Father’s Day. But, let me conclude by a little kid’s definition of what Father’s Day is all about. This little boy says: Father’s Day is just like Mother’s Day only you don’t spend so much.” Perhaps that is being godly.

(Francis Kong will team up with Luigi Mapa in a two-day seminar workshop called “Leadership That Matters” on June 25-26 at Marqui Convention Center BGC. For registrations or further inquiries contact Inspire Leadership Consultancy and look for Pauline at 0998-841-7217 or 0917-561-4673)