Happy Birthday Dad! Seventy years young today!
Proverbs 1:7-9 – The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction. 8 Hear, my son, your father’s instruction, and forsake not your mother’s teaching, 9 for they are a graceful garland for your head and pendants for your neck.
Grouse hunting with my dad and son (many years ago) in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, near the town of Ralph.
Being raised learning to love the outdoors was a true blessing and something I have carried with me throughout the years. Hunting and fishing with dad are some of my fondest memories from childhood. But the greatest blessing of all was having parents who brought me up in the knowledge and fear of the Lord!
Fathers, the single most important thing you can do for your children is to raise them knowing Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Read to them from the Bible. Teach them to bring everything to God in prayer. Set the example by being the spiritual leader of your family as God intended. Do not shirk that responsibility. Listen to Paul’s advice from Ephesians 6:4, “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”
And children, as the fifth commandment, in Exodus 20:12, says, “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.” This commandment, unlike the others actually carries with it a specific promise for being obedient. Not that we deserve a reward for obedience, nor are the other commandments are any less important; but, this is the only one that makes such a promise, making it noteworthy. Even Paul highlights this distinction in Ephesians 6:1-3, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), 3 “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.”
Thank you for all you have done for me throughout my life Dad! May God bless and keep you today and always!
Love,
Todd
Read more about my “God is Revealed…“ category of posts
© Todd D. Nystrom and Todd the Hiker, 2013.
Todd the Hiker 
All I can say about this post is thank you my son. God has blessed me in more ways than I could possibly tell you. You and your sisters were always my and mom’s priority. Although we probably made many mistakes, we tried to do our best. Your spiritual well being was the most important part of your upbringing. As I was raised in a Christian home, I wanted you to know the joy of being a child of God. By God’s grace you grew up knowing the saving grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I love you my son, and thank you for all you have done and continue to do for me.