Why do we love? Do we love because of what we can get out of a relationship or because of what we can give into a relationship? God, our Father, has given us good examples of what a loving father is to be like. We have a Father in Heaven who loves us unconditionally and gives us wonderful gifts. We have a Father who cares for our pains, trials and triumphs. God tells us not to worry and takes care of our needs. God longs to hear from you, His child. Don’t miss your chance to do the very same thing for your Father in Heaven, who loved you so much He sent his Son to die for you.

“If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in Heaven give good things to them that ask Him?” Matthew 7:11 (KJV)

I don’t know about you, but Father’s Day really conjures up a lot of conflicting emotions for me. I am blessed to be the father of wonderful children. I am also equally blessed for having a good father in my life. I was not the best kid and I was not the worst kid either. While others judged and even pronounced me a failure, “My Dad” just kept on loving me. I attempted to run from that love, but like the “hound of heaven,” he would not let me get away. His influence in my life cannot be overstated. “My Dad” — he really loved me. And, by the way, I turned out okay (crazy, but okay)! I really don’t know if we can love our kids too much. But, I do know that love needs to be expressed and valued. Your children — regardless of their lot in life or their adherence to your desires — need to know your love for them is constant and secure. You can love them and not support the lifestyle they have.

“The Lord is like a Father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear Him.” Psalm 103:13 (NLT)

So, if you are a father, turn the tables on your kids on Father’s Day. When they tell you how special you are, make sure they know how you feel about them. You might even say, “Son/daughter, I love you!” There is no doubt in my mind that my dad knows how much I love him. It is also nice to say why sometimes. Some of you may not have a pleasant memory of your father or you might not have any memories at all. This may be the time to start down the road to forgiveness and/or reconciliation, or it may be a chance to thank others in your life that have offered fatherly wisdom to you and tell them why you appreciate them. I can’t help but feel slightly convicted, for when have I shared this kind of a moment with my Heavenly Father? Maybe your prayers often reflect more of what you want and less of how wonderful the Lord is, or more of what you need and less of how thankful you are for what you have.

Father’s Day is almost here. Plan to tell your father why you love him and appreciate him. Also, if you have children, make sure you tell them that you love them and why.

Tony Guadagnino is the pastor for Christian Love Fellowship Church, 801 SE 10 St., Deerfield Beach. www.clfdeerfield.com.

Years ago, I was blessed to work with my father of blessed memory.

We not only got to share the pulpit for several high holy days, we also did rounds together at several health centers. Back in those years, we worked alongside a wonderful Franciscan Friar, known lovingly to all those under his charge as Father Joe.

One day, the three of us were walking down a hospital hallway side-by-side and someone came up to us. They looked at my father and then at me and said, “I never remember, which of you is the father and which of you is the son.”

My dad immediately responded, “I’m the father and he’s the son,” at which point I looked over at Father Joe and said, “You know what that makes you, don’t you? That’s right, if my dad’s the father and I’m the son, then you must be the Holy Ghost!”

Father Joe wasn’t offended in any way, and, as he smiled at my sick humor, the patient in front of us got such a wonderful belly laugh, the first time he had laughed in ages.

Oddly enough, I now do rounds each week at the North Broward campus of Catholic Health Services. When I first started working there several years ago, everyone call me Rabbi. But I have been there for a long time, and, over the years, many of the staff and patients have slipped and, instead of calling me Rabbi, they call me Father.

The first time they do it and realize what they have done, they apologize. But I tell them, you have nothing to apologize for. I am honored that you accept my position here to the point that you actually refer to me in such a way.

I don’t have any children of my own, but I do have those who call me Father, and that is a blessing in my life.

Amazingly enough, here in America, we celebrate Father’s Day on the specific day we do because of Priests, Pastors and Ministers.

This year marks the 115th Anniversary of Father’s Day.

Sonora Smart Dodd came up with the concept of Father’s Day. Her mother died giving birth. Sonora’s father raised her and her five brothers all by himself. And, during the church service on Mother’s Day, Sonora knew there should be a special day set aside for fathers.

Her father happened to have been born on June 5, and she thought that would be the perfect day to celebrate Father’s Day. But when the Ministerial Association of Spokane, WA met to approve it, they felt there was too little time to prepare proper sermons for fathers so soon after Mother’s Day. And so it was that they opted to celebrate Father’s Day on the third Sunday of the month of June. That was back in the year 1910 and we have been celebrating it ever since.

Father’s Day was not meant to be a day for buying ties. And I believe that Calvin Coolidge said it best as he signed a resolution in 1924 pertaining to Father’s Day as a day “to establish more intimate relations between fathers and their children and to impress upon fathers the full measure of their obligations.”

I hope all the Fathers reading this column will take those words to heart. You can be a Saint to your children. In fact, in several traditionally Catholic Countries (Spain, Portugal, etc.), Father’s Day is observed on March 19, which just happens to be The Feast of St. Joseph.

Shalom my friends and a very meaningful Father’s Day,

Rabbi Craig H Ezring

Rabbi Ezring is the Spiritual Leader of Temple Beth Israel of Deerfield Beach (201 S. Military Tr., Deerfield Beach, FL 33442). Regular Shabbat services are open to everyone on Saturday mornings from 9 to 11:30 a.m.

I remember the feelings I had when I first found out I was going to be a father.

Most fathers have nine months to prepare. You get the news, you look at the calendar, you figure out the day of the birth and you begin to prepare. These days, you can even find out what the gender is, so you can even prepare by having everything set up whether you are having a boy or a girl.

In our case, all of our children are adopted so we really didn’t have that kind of preparation time. In fact, the amount of time we had to prepare was actually in reverse order of their birth.

With Ana, we had no notice. Someone literally knocked on the door, put her in Beth’s arms and said, “I’ll bring her things tomorrow.” She has been with us ever since. Because of that visit, our lives will never be the same. She completely changed the dynamics of our family forever. For one thing, after two boys, I was not prepared for a little girl.

Isaiah was a little longer. We were notified about five days before he was born and Beth actually was able to be there and see him a couple of hours after he was born. For me, it was a little bit longer because we had to finalize all the legal documents for Isaiah to leave Pennsylvania and travel to Texas. What an exciting time! Samuel and I arrived at the airport a bit early, waiting for Beth to walk through the door with this little boy who would change our lives forever.

The longest we had to wait was for Samuel. In April of 1997, we were notified that we might have the opportunity and then, about four months later, he arrived.

I have been studying for some weeks now Luke 1 and 2 getting ready for Christmas messages. The thing that has impacted me is Joseph. He had made all the right choices and was obviously a Godly man who could be trusted.  Why else would God choose this man to raise His only begotten Son? He was doing all the right things. He had learned a trade. We know he was a carpenter. He was successful enough that he was in a position to get married and provide for a family. He had all the hopes and dreams that a man getting ready to begin his life would have. Then, his wife-to-be shows up pregnant, proclaiming that the baby was God’s son. Now, that’s a major change. How does he respond? Matthew says he took her into his house to live as his wife. Joseph was really an amazing man. So little is known or written about Joseph, but, at the same time, we learn so much from him about what it means to be a Godly father and Husband.

First of all, he put aside all of his pride and rights as a man to follow God’s plan for his life, even though it was a plan that really made no sense to him. Secondly, he cared for a woman that was carrying someone else’s child.

Thirdly, he raised the child as his own, the whole time knowing that this child was the Son of God.

We know that Joseph did teach Him the Word of God because, at the end of chapter two, we hear the story of Jesus at the temple. The passage says that, after three days in the temple courts, the religious leaders of the day marveled at his knowledge of the scripture because he was 100 percent man, as well as 100 percent God. He had to learn the truths of God’s Word. It was Joseph who taught him.

We also know Joseph taught his other children, because the New Testament book of James was written by James, the brother of Jesus.

When we think of Christmas, we think of the baby Jesus, Mary his mother, the wise men, the shepherds and the angels’ announcement. Let’s take some time this Christmas to learn from one of the greatest fathers in history, Joseph.

Deron Peterson is the Senior Pastor at First Baptist Church of Deerfield Beach