1 00:00:00,539 --> 00:00:02,919 Concerning fathers Solomon says, 2 00:00:02,919 --> 00:00:08,420 Grandchildren are the crown of old men, and the glory of sons is their fathers. 3 00:00:08,420 --> 00:00:10,980 (Proverbs 17:6) 4 00:00:10,980 --> 00:00:17,360 There was a special celebration of belonging to and coming forth from a man you could call 5 00:00:17,369 --> 00:00:20,069 your father in Solomon's day. 6 00:00:20,069 --> 00:00:27,049 Fathers took pride in children but the writer emphasizes that children also gloried in who their father was. 7 00:00:27,049 --> 00:00:35,220 If a child's glory was his father, then a child without a father was missing his innate, inherent glory. 8 00:00:35,220 --> 00:00:41,110 This phenomenon can be seen today as so many boys and girls struggle with issue of identity 9 00:00:41,110 --> 00:00:48,079 and self-worth because they are denied the glory of their fathers through death or abandonment. 10 00:00:48,079 --> 00:00:53,290 Without ownership of basic fatherly glory one seeks to create an image of glory from 11 00:00:53,290 --> 00:00:58,860 other sources and consequently becomes vulnerable to the false glory offered by the make-believe 12 00:00:58,860 --> 00:01:03,149 men and women of advertisers and Hollywood. 13 00:01:03,149 --> 00:01:09,000 Children with guns, children with drugs and alcohol, young people with cynical attitudes 14 00:01:09,000 --> 00:01:14,430 and a desire only for the pleasures of things are simply reflecting the false glory they 15 00:01:14,430 --> 00:01:19,280 have adopted because there is precious little fatherly glory in their lives. 16 00:01:19,280 --> 00:01:25,830 Children need the glory of their fathers in order to learn their own sense of worth. 17 00:01:25,830 --> 00:01:30,409 Fathers need to pass on their glory so their sons and daughters can know not only who they 18 00:01:30,409 --> 00:01:34,349 are but that who they are is a glorious thing. 19 00:01:34,349 --> 00:01:36,349 Discussion Questions 20 00:01:36,349 --> 00:01:43,789 1. Which of your parents were you closest to? Why? 21 00:01:43,789 --> 00:01:50,929 2. As a child what were the two things you, personally, needed the most from your parent(s)? 22 00:01:50,929 --> 00:01:58,909 3. As a parent what are you trying to teach your children about being a parent? Do they "get it"? 23 00:01:58,909 --> 00:02:06,189 4. What unique role do you believe fathers play in the lives of their children? How did your own father succeed in this? 24 00:02:06,189 --> 00:02:13,689 5. What can mothers do to help their sons become good fathers some day?