Father Knows Best…

If you're old enough to remember those words, then you probably have realized that "Father knows best" is God's truth.

 Those words, Father Knows Best, are from the title of what was first a 1950's radio show and later a TV sitcom that ran from 1954 thru 1960. The father, Jim Anderson, was played by actor Robert Young. Jim always had wise advice in response to his children's questions, requests and problems.

 Growing up, my sisters and I watched the sitcom and relished the dilemmas of the TV family and sat on the edge of our seats to hear the father's solution to whatever may have been the situation.

 We rarely sat on any furniture when watching TV. We naturally sat on the carpeted floor as close to the television as possible. Our father would remind us that we would go blind sitting so close to the TV. Strike one for FKB. My sisters nor I have yet to succumb to blindness.

 As much as we enjoyed Father Knows Best and bought into the premise that Jim Anderson had all the answers, somehow that did not translate to our father. In fact, from as early as I can remember, I can't recall a single situation where I thought my father, my dad, to be correct. Of course, I had all the answers. I was the one that was right. Yes, I had all the answers, and my sisters felt the same way about themselves.

 Looking back, I think my incredible intelligence and impeccable judgment took flight at about age twelve. How could my father believe he knew best when he denied me the dirt bike of my dreams? Dad had a myriad of reason for that decision. Something about breaking my neck or leg or the possibility of death. He had several first-hand examples, none of which fit my narrative and all of which kept me from motorcycle nirvana.

 My argument was logical and concise. "Dad! I'm twelve years old, I can handle a dirt bike as well as anyone, and all my friends have one; I can't live without one too." I think Jim Anderson would have found a way to get Bud a bike.

 The dirt bike was just the beginning of how my father did not know what was best. Dad went almost zero for, well, let's say, a lot from that twelve-year-old ask to perhaps the eighteen-year-old wanting to take a few years off before going to college. My father, I thought, was so cruel to ruin those formative years.

 And now, I'm a father. Boy, oh boy! What a brilliant man my dad, was. I probably would have broken my neck on the dirt bike; I would have fallen through the ice when I wanted to go ice fishing when he knew the ice was too thin. If I had postponed college as I wanted, I would likely not have gone. I went, graduated, and am so thankful for my dad’s persistence. Looking back, my life would have had a much different outcome had Dad not been there and given me the advice that he knew was BEST.

 As a father, I am now in Jim Anderson's shoes, my dad’s shoes. Our two daughters, over the years, have had so many situations, requests, and decisions to make. Through the grace of God, I have had the privilege to be there for them. I'm sure that when I intervened, when I decided what was best, they did not always agree. I didn't always agree with my father's decisions. But, as it turns out, in most cases, fathers really do know best.

 Happy Father’s Day