On this day in 1910 Father’s Day was celebrated for the first time—in Spokane, Washington.

What comes to mind when you hear the word, “Father”? Some kids have great relationships with their dads. For others, the relationship isn’t very strong. And some don’t even know who their father is.

The Bible says lots about fathers and children. You’ve probably heard, “Children, obey your parents” (Ephesians 6:1). That’s clear but not always easy to do. As long as we are underage and live under their authority, however, we’re supposed to do what our parents tell us to.

Another verse takes a little different slant. Jesus says, “Honor your father and mother” (Mark 7:10). “Honoring” is different than obeying. To honor someone means to respect that person. And honoring doesn’t stop when we grow up and leave home. Adults don’t have to “obey” their parents, but they still need to “honor” them.

The way people see their earthly fathers can determine how they see the heavenly Father. That can be good or bad. A child with a wonderful, loving father will tend to see God as wonderful and loving. On the other hand, a child with an abusive father will have a much more difficult time drawing close to a heavenly Father.

It’s better to think of it the other way around. That is, we should know that God is a Father in the perfect sense—he’s what every father should try to be like. He loves; he disciplines; he cares; he guides; he’s with us and for us. Isn’t that great! That’s why Paul could write, “So you should not be like cowering, fearful slaves. You should behave instead like God’s very own children, adopted into his family—calling him ‘Father, dear Father’” (Romans 8:15).

No matter what your earthly father is like, you can run to your Father in heaven.

Thanks God for both dads.

He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers. (Malachi 4:6, NIV)

To Do

Write two Father’s Day notes, one for your earthly father and one for your heavenly Father. Say thank-you for all that each Daddy has meant to you—be specific. Give the one note to your earthly father, and put the other note in your Bible as a reminder of what God means to you.

Also on this day . . .

This is Juneteenth, the oldest known celebration commemorating the ending of slavery in the United States.

1964—After a 83-day filibuster, the Civil Rights Act was approved in Congress.

1978—The “Garfield” comic strip appeared in newspapers around the U.S. for the first time.

From Betsy Schmitt and Dave Veerman, 365 Trivia Twist Devotions: An Almanac of Fun Facts and Spiritual Truth for Every Day of the Year (Cincinnati: Standard, 2005).