[The Living Cells] To Be A Man

[B]

Yesterday was Fathers' Day. I wondered how many families celebrate that. Perhaps more now as compared to before?

I find Today's Daily Encounter on "Happy Father's Day", by Richard Innes, meaningful and like to share it below:

"Fathers, do not aggravate your children, or they will become discouraged."
(Colossians 3:21 (NLT)

As a result of teaching in many seminars and facilitating small recovery groups over the years, I have met and talked to scores of both men and women who grew up feeling their father was emotionally absent. Consequently they struggled with a deep father wound caused by the feeling that they had never been affirmed by their fathers. I felt the same way for many years.

Having spent considerable time working to resolve my own father wound, I wrote my version of the classic poem "If" by Rudyard Kipling several years ago for my two sons who are now adults.

To Be a Man

When you can rise above your

fears to conquer every challenge

that comes to those who dare

to climb the highest heights;

When you can keep on getting up each

time you've failed or been knocked down;

When you can see your greatest strength

lies in your faith and gentleness,

your greatest courage in admitting

your faults, and with God's help

strive to overcome them;

When you can accept responsibility

for resolving all your hurts and break

the chain from generations past;

When you can know and show a father's

love and feel with all your heart;

When you can love yourself, others

and God more than earthly gain,

or fame and recognition, you will,

my son, be then a man--

and indeed a great man at that.

© Dick Innes

--
Posted By B to The Living Cells at 6/18/2007 01:09:00 PM