Have
you ever received a wedding or graduation invitation in the mail that begins
with the phrase, “The Honor of Your Presence is Requested...”? It’s a simple
phrase, but extremely powerful. The person sending the invitation isn’t asking
you to bring a gift, or perform any type of service. They just want you to be present.
Simply being there would mean so much to them.
Sometimes we forget how much it means to our children, whether biological or just children of the community, for us to be present. How will our boys learn how to be men without our example? How will our girls know what kind of man they should marry without our illustration? Our presence in the home, church, and community is vital to the next generation coming along. It’s the same reason why instruction manuals come with step by step pictures. Sometimes our words aren’t enough to get the point across. They need our presence, and we need to demonstrate in front of them what it is to be a man.
Sometimes we forget how much it means to our children, whether biological or just children of the community, for us to be present. How will our boys learn how to be men without our example? How will our girls know what kind of man they should marry without our illustration? Our presence in the home, church, and community is vital to the next generation coming along. It’s the same reason why instruction manuals come with step by step pictures. Sometimes our words aren’t enough to get the point across. They need our presence, and we need to demonstrate in front of them what it is to be a man.
That’s
not to say that the only thing we should do is be present. We definitely should
actively council and guide our youth. Sometimes we will have to engage them and
interact to get a lesson across, but we can never underestimate the power of
our presence. Our silent, living example of what to be and what not to be is
invaluable, powerful impact.
It
costs nothing to spend some time. So men, as we approach Father’s Day, The
Honor of Your Presence is Requested In The Lives Of Our Children. There’s no
need to RSVP. Just be there.