I have so much to learn as a father. I am a work in progress. Growing up my father was not around. My mind has been on fatherhood lately. I don’t know, maybe it’s because father’s day is coming up. Or it could be because every time I look at my son, I am reminded of the great responsibility that I have as his father. I often think about all of the young boys and girls in our nation and in the world who don’t have a strong male father figure at home. It’s heart breaking. I’m going to publish a small book for those children hopefully this week or next through Amazon. I want to do something to give them some encouragement and to know that can be make it in life.

It’s a blessing to be a father, and yet so much is at stake. I’m not taking this role lightly.

While my father wasn’t around for most of my life, I’m thankful that I did have some time with him. I learned a lot from him from the good things and bad things that he did.

Looking back at his life and my experience as a father for a brief five years, I’ve learned that sometimes as father’s we can be really foolish. I was reading a text in the Bible this morning that reminded me of this point. It’s found in 1 Samuel 14:24-46. Saul was King over Israel. The men were in battle. Saul did something foolish.

He put the people under an oath saying, “Cursed be the man who eats food before evening, and until I have avenged myself on my enemies.” So none of the people tasted food, verse 24.

Well there was one person who didn’t get the memo. That was Saul’s son Jonathan. In verse 27 it says, “But Jonathan had not heard when his father put the people under oath; therefore, he put out the end of the staff that was in his hand and dipped it in the honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth, and his eyes brightened.” Someone told Jonathan what his father had said earlier. I love his reply. Jonathan said, “My father has troubled the land. See, now how my eyes have brightened because I tasted a little of this honey. How much more, if only the people had eaten freely today of the spoil of their enemies which they found! For now the slaughter among the Philistines has not been great.”

Jonathan was right! His father Saul had acted foolishly. Jonathan recognized it and so did the rest of the people. You should read the rest of the story to see what happened next. The people would end up delivering Jonathan from death.

Saul acted foolishly!

He was quick with his words.

He didn’t think about how his decision would impact the lives of others.
He seemingly was only concerned about himself.

He made a poor choice in the middle of a heated moment.

That makes for FOOLISH DECISION! His son was right. To all of the father’s out there, what about us? Do we ever act like Saul? Do we act foolishly? Are we too quick with our words? Do we make promises that we shouldn’t make? Do we think about the influence we have in our homes, and how our actions will impact others? Do we need to take a step back before we make some really big decisions? Are we troubling our home?

Sometimes we can be foolish! But there’s hope. We can change. We can learn from our mistakes. We can be wise. We can live and learn or we can learn and live. We get to decide. I must choose wisely. If you are a father you will too. There’s so much at stake. Let’s not act foolishly.