3 Words Men Hate To Say But Long To Hear Series

Extreme Home Makeover HPC Edition

Three Words Men Hate To Say But Long To Hear

1 Corinthians 13; Eph.5:24

INTRODUCTION

Fathers Day, is a holiday which generates mixed opinions. The top three holidays in North America are Christmas and Valentines, but the number one day for cards, florists, restaurants, and department stores, is Mother’s day

Father’s day receives honorable mention.

Mothers get the red carpet treatment on their day, with fabulous brunches and beautiful bouquets. For the fathers, however, retailers have cleverly priced almost everything under $9.99!

Case in point: Have you heard of the Talking Fly Swatter? It’s a lime-green fly swatter with a little speaker that says stuff like "Hasta la vista, baby!" "Flight canceled!" and "Die sucker!" every time you try to use it.

Someone wrote these humorous words entitled, "The World According to Dad." These are words that most dads have said at some time or another to their children.

- This is going to hurt me more than it hurts you.

- Quiet. I’m watching the ball game.

- Don’t forget to check the oil.

- Bring back all the change.

- How should I know? Ask your mother.

- I’m not made out of money!

- When I was your age I walked 5 miles to and from school each day and it was uphill both ways. In my pj’s

- You are going and you will have fun!

- Who’s paying the bills around here, anyway?

- If you break your leg don’t come running to me.

- Don’t put your feet on the furniture. Your mother will kill you.

- Get down before you kill yourself. On second thought, go ahead.

- Quit playing with your food.

- Be quiet! Can’t you see I’m trying to think!

- Why? Because I said so!

- If you don’t quit that I’m going to call your mother.

- You better get that junk picked up before your mother comes in here.

- Just wait till you have kids of your own.

- I was not asleep. I was just resting my eyes.

Men, I suppose we who are fathers could probably add a couple of quotes to this list.

Being a parent and a father can be an interesting and trying experience.

This morning we are honoring the men, fathers grandfathers, brothers, husbands in our lives.

The world spends time, money and energy trying to make men out to be clueless idiots or overbearing, tough guys who are only out for numero uno.

The vast majority however, are just normal guys who want to get along in life and do the best we can at work, in our homes and for the Lord.

God has a plan for each man in this room today. It is not to tell you how wrong or bad you may already feel about yourself. The world does enough of that.

In Paul’s letter to the Ephesians he gives a command for every person to submit one to the other. He then explains how this looks in marriage, the family and in the workplace. He writes about wives submitting to and respecting their husbands, children obeying their parents, slaves being obedient to their masters.

In the middle of his teaching Paul gives 4 words which would potentially revolunize every home and marriage in the world. Paul shouts out these three words in staccato fashion like a general commanding his troops.

HUSBANDS LOVE YOUR WIVES

I did an unscientific survey this week asking the question The three words men hate to say. Here are the list that I had in response.

Lets go shopping 1

You are right 1

I am wrong1

I’m very sorry11

I need help 1

I am lost 1

Its my fault 1

It was interesting that the three words I was looking for did not make the list. Whenever I have done marriage counseling, the wife usually laments that the one thing she never hears from her husband are

I LOVE YOU.

Many young people have gone their entire lives without hearing these three life affirming words.

Whether its due to the fear of sounding weak, the irony is most men I have spoken with long to have heard those words from their dads lips.

I have spoken with many men at the graveside of an elderly father, and heard the son say, My father worked hard , he was faithful to my mom, gave all he had, gave us a roof over our heads and put me through college. I followed his example in providing for my own family But I never once heard him say I LOVE YOU.

That is both sad and tragic.

I wonder how many young men who are in Kingston Penitentiary today would have a different life had they known the love of a father. How many daughters would not have dated the wrong guy had they known their first love was actually their dad. I wonder…