Mother’s Day Versus Father’s Day

“For you can have 10,000 instructors in Christ, but you can’t have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel.” (1 Corinthians 4:15, HCSB)

If Mother’s Day and Father’s Day were competing in a boxing match, I wonder who would win? I have to say if church attendance is any indication, then Mother’s Day is the more popular of the two celebrations.

However, fathers are just as important as mothers. Fathers do more than just instruct their children. Many times we consider the mother as the nurturing person and the father as the consequential person. By that, I mean that we run to Mom when we need comfort and we deal with Dad when things go wrong. That is how it operates in many families. Dad plays a role in instructing the children through correction.

However, correction is not the only form of instruction. Teachers dispense knowledge, however, they rarely model what they teach. Primarily because teachers instruct students with information. Fathers, however, instruct children with morality. Teachers and instructors teach about Christ. Fathers model Christ. There is a big difference.

Mothers may nurture children, but fathers have the unique responsibility to turn them into adults. So in the long run, who wins the boxing match? If church attendance is the measure, then Mother’s Day will win hands down. If moral maturity is the measure (which will usually go unrecognized), then Father’s Day will win. We need to recognize them both. Even if one is not as popular as the other.

Photo by Mon Petit Chou Photography on Unsplash