An email I received from a work colleague today…

Billy Graham said, "A good father is one of the most unsung, unpraised , unnoticed, and yet one of the most valuable assets in our society."

What is a good father? Some think being a good father means providing for their children. But fathers can get so caught up in fulfilling material desires that they lose sight of things that have lasting value. There are some gifts fathers can give their kids that will have eternal benefits; faith, acceptance, direction, example, respect.
No investment is more precious than time. Being with your child and giving them your attention imparts a proper sense of worth.

"Cat’s in the Cradle," is a folk rock song by American singer/songwriter Harry Chapin. It appeared on Chapin’s 1974 album Verities & Balderdash. It was written by Harry’s wife Sandy, a poet and writer, long before the birth of their son Joshua. After Joshua’s birth, Harry realized just how much the song meant to him and, after reworking the song, eventually recorded it.

My child arrived just the other day,
He came to the world in the usual way,
But there were planes to catch, and bills to pay,
He learned to walk while I was away.
And he was talkin’ ‘fore I knew it and as he grew,
He’d say, "I’m gonna be like you, Dad.
You know I’m gonna be like you."

And the cat’s in the cradle and the silver spoon,
Little Boy Blue and the man in the moon.
"When you comin’ home, Dad?"
"I don’t know when, but we’ll get together then;
You know we’ll have a good time then."

My son turned ten just the other day.
He said, "Thanks for the ball, Dad, come on, let’s play.
Can you teach me to throw?"
I said, "No, not today,
I got a lot to do."
He said, "That’s okay."
And he walked away but his smile never dimmed.
It said, "I’m gonna be like him, yeah,
You know I’m gonna be like himð."

And he came from college just the other day;
So much like a man I just had to say,
"Son, I’m proud of you, can you sit for a while?"
He shook his head and he said with a smile,
"What I’d really like, Dad, is to borrow the car keys.
See you later, can I have them please?"
I’ve long since retired, my son’s moved away.
I called him up just the other day.
I said, "I’d like to see you, if you don’t mind."
He said, "I’d love to, Dad, if I can find the time.
You see, my new job’s a hassle, and the kids have the flu,
But it’s sure nice talkin’ to you, Dad,
It’s been nice talkin’ to you."

And as I hung up the phone
It occurred to me,
He’d grown up just like me.
My boy was just like me.

And the cat’s in the cradle and the silver spoon,
Little Boy Blue and the man in the moon,
"When you comin’ home, Son?"
"I don’t know when, but we’ll get together then, Dad.
We’re gonna have a good time then."

The melodrama of this song was played out in Chapin’s own life almost like a self-fulfilling prophecy. His wife asked him one day when he was going to slow down the torrid pace of his life and give some time to their children. His answer was, "At the end of this busy summer, I’ll take some time to be with them." That summer, ironically and tragically, Harry Chapin was killed in a car accident. It is not possible to read that postscript of Chapin’s death and miss the larger point-that something was known, believed, and even "preached," but never lived. When we chase manmade crowns and sacrifice the treasured relationships for which God has made us, life loses its meaning.

You may not be a father but there is a child in your life; niece, nephew, student, friend. It will mean a lot someday for them to know he or she was truly important to you. Today it seems a thankless thing they may not even notice. But they grow up and learn what it is to value others. Then it dawns on them that they were loved and affirmed by you. It gets them through some awful times of insecurity and trouble to know someone is on their side.

– Rev. Glenn Weekley/Hendersonville First Baptist Church

Sept 2nd 2007 is Father’s Day in Australia and New Zealand.