We rightly honor those who hold a special place in our lives, who sacrificed their personal comfort for our wellbeing, and who consistently offered their strength to bring more life and goodness into the world. At the same time, there are occasions in which the position is more important than the particular man. And here we must learn to give and receive honor as a reflection of God’s higher good.
For instance, this is the case with fatherhood. Of course, it’s easy to honor when good men hold the position. But fatherhood is worthy of honor even when many imperfect men are the daily examples in our lives.
To be sure, fatherhood is not reduced to the qualities of any one man. It’s an archetype, showing how the masculine presence is intended to teach, empower, and offer blessing and life to others. It’s a vision we’re consistently pressing toward without an expectation of having arrived with perfection.
As such, honoring fatherhood is initially just declaring that fathers matter and offer a distinct reflection of God’s love. And while honoring an individual might be a genuine affirmation of their personal accomplishments, it might also be a humble acknowledgment of them simply being “on the way” or what the role represents even if they’ve fallen short.
Even still, learning to receive honor is also an important aspect here. While we might not feel like we deserve it, can readily point to those who seem like better examples, and can rightly recognize the irreplaceable support of our wife and many others along the way, we disrespect the position when we don’t accept the honor offered. Receiving this honor is not ultimately about us, or our perceived worthiness. We humbly accept full honors because of the position God has given us to hold.
In the end, fatherhood matters and is rightly honored. But this is much more than merely celebrating a particular man. It’s giving and receiving the honor due the position God has called us to embody.
Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash
