My Father Can Be Your Father!Намуна

IT WAS A BAD HAIR DAY!

I was soon learning that age wasn’t what mattered, in fact, those who liked me as a friend thought my dad was cool. What mattered was who he was as a man. He was filled with wisdom, had great respect for his upbringing, he honored God, was a very hard worker, never knew a stranger, and loved his family!

One of the greatest lessons growing up, and there were many, was when I was in Jr. High School. I was at that age where puberty set in and I was really into how my hair looked. We had a big round mirror hanging in a room between the kitchen and living room. The room had an old black buffet, a telephone stand, and an old heating stove in it. I decided to set up shop and do my hair in front of that mirror.  No matter what I did to my long hair, that day it would not cooperate, and I threw my hairbrush to the floor and cried angry tears. I think I was 12 or 13 years old. I don’t know if daddy was in the kitchen or living room or passing through, but I will never forget his words, “Norma Jean, get rid of that pride; pride is not a friend.” 

“The LORD Almighty has a day in store for all the proud and lofty, for all that is exalted, and they will be humbled,” Isaiah 2:12

As a young person, I am sure his words didn’t resonate with the deep meaning, but I respected my daddy and knew to stop my behavior because he instilled within me right and wrong.

I must say to this day, decades later, I still love looking my best, but on days my hair does not cooperate, those words of a loving father resurface within my spirit to keep me in line.

CAN YOU RELATE?

Dads are to be the very image of how we would expect a loving Father to be. A loving Father doesn’t leave a child to raise itself. A loving Father has rules and guidelines, not because he wants to usurp authority, but because he knows there are evil things in the world that can lead us down paths to harm not only our physical bodies but our eternal soul.  

A TIME TO REFLECT:

1. Do you know someone in your life that is aged that you respect?

2. Think about that person and what draws you to them.

3. Recall a time in your life where you knew you needed discipline. Do you feel that discipline has affected you today?

4. How has your parents' discipline affected how you carried out parenthood for your children or if you are not a parent, how you treat others?