FATHERS DAY was last weekend. So I hope all the Dads and Grand Dads were duly recognized and feted by their offspring. My father passed away 10 years ago, so I paid a visit to his grave on Sunday afternoon. I know that he is not there, but as someone told me years ago, sometimes it is meaningful to have a place to go in order to remember.
Since I do not have biological children, I was not included in the customary father’s day celebrations. However I did receive father’s day greetings from people who regard me as a father (which makes me feel old, yet honored). Like the Apostle Paul of the Bible, I have spiritual children. You see, there are three men in the New Testament, that Paul refers to as “sons” : Timothy (1 Timothy 1:2; 1:18; 6:20; 2 Tim. 1:2; 2:1;) , Titus (Titus 1:4), and Onesimus (Philemon 1:10).
There could be several reasons why Paul singled out these men. In the case of Timothy, many believe that Paul personally led him to Christ, or at least that he became a Christian under Paul’s ministry. In that respect, I can look back on a number of people who came to faith during my ministry of more than 45 years. Some of those have a special place in my memory, and there are probably some that I am not even aware of. But in Timothy’s case, I believe that there is more to it than that. Otherwise, why would Paul refer to him as a son no less than five times, including with the affectionate words, my true son in the faith (1 Tim 1:2) and my dear son (2 Tim 1:2) ? Probably because Paul had poured a great deal of his life into the life of young Timothy, and was mentoring him as a young pastor. The letters to Timothy are full of advice of how to conduct himself in his difficult situation. And when Paul was imprisoned, it was Timothy’s company and assistance that he longed for: Do your best to get here before winter (2 Tim 4:21) .
I will never forget the first time that one of my spiritual “sons” wished me a “Happy Father’s Day”. I asked him if this was some sort of joke. Then he told me why I was a father figure in his life. I won’t embarrass him by naming him here, but if he reads this he will know whom I mean. I had walked with this young man through one of life’s difficulties, had led him to personal faith in Jesus as Saviour and Lord, had baptized him, and helped him in the first steps of his Christian faith, and counselled him through important decisions. Moreover we became good friends. Whenever we met, whether in church or elsewhere, he never shook my hand – he always insisted on hugging me no matter who was there. And yes, the feeling was and is mutual.
Now it seems I have a few more “sons” all over the world, and so the greetings came this past weekend. I have to say, that I discovered the practice of mentoring rather late in the second half of my ministry. I wish I had learned it sooner.