This weekend is Father’s Day and an opportunity for all of us to honor our fathers. If possible we visit in person or by phone however for those of us whose fathers are deceased we can honor their memory by sharing one of our special memories of Dad with our children or siblings. Prayers are another way to reconnect and for those who are fathers you can receive your families’ love and rededicate it with gratitude to the memory of your father.

Most of us have been fortunate to have been raised by our father (and mother). But fatherhood is no longer part of our present day society. In our country 40.3 percent of all births are to unwed mothers, based on 2015 statistics. And one out of three children lives in a home without their biological father.

It seems as though today’s culture has been attacking fatherhood for quite some time with the way men are depicted on television. Men are portrayed as the brunt of all jokes, irresponsible, unreliable, and lazy, working only out of necessity. Then there’s the easy divorce, welfare system which pays teenage girls to have children as long as they aren’t married and the income tax system that penalizes marriage. All these things make it extremely difficult for today’s fathers to live up to their responsibilities as head of the family.

Contrary to what today’s society implies fatherhood is an awesome responsibility. They lead by example. Did you know that children living with fathers in the home tend to do better behaviorally, socially, psychologically, intellectually, and spiritually—if the father attends church?

The Southern Baptists, who do a great job evangelizing published these remarkable results from research done by their church resource division: • If a child is the first in the family to become a Christian, there’s a 3.7 percent probability that the rest of the family will become Christians • If mom is the first in the family to become a Christian, there’s a 17 percent probability that the rest of the family will follow • If dad is the first in the family to become a Christian, there’s a 93 percent probability that everyone else in the family will follow his lead

We learn more from our father’s actions than his words. We need our fathers and that is a fact that never changes regardless of how old we grow to become we will always look to our fathers for all that we are and all that we hope to become. Wishing all the beautiful fathers a blessed and glorious day, you have my admiration.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

This Saturday, June 17 Styles on Main hair salon has their Open House from 12 – 4 p.m. They are located at 202 E Main Street.

This Sunday is Father’s Day and the Versailles Eagle’s Auxiliary is holding their buffet style breakfast from 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. at the lodge. The breakfast includes sausage, pancakes, scrambled eggs, hash browns, bacon, biscuits and gravy, fruit, toast, orange juice and coffee.

Congratulations to the 2017 Little Miss Poultry Days Annabelle Menke, daughter of Bethany also to first runner-up Olivia Eilerman, daughter of Stephanie and Kyle Eilerman, and to second runner-up Gabrielle Nelson, daughter of Theresa and Ron Nelson. Also congratulations to the 2017 Miss Chick Abigail White, daughter of Rachel and Ron White, first runner-up Stephanie Bechtol, daughter of Karen and David Bechtol and second runner-up Megan Marchal, daughter of Elaine and Mark Marchal.

Birthday wishes to Connie Schrader, Fred Banks, Carley Timmerman, Shellie Stump, JoAnn Ingle, Michelle Prior, Esther Heft, Betty McKenna, Susie (Baltes) Barga, Angie Keiser, Tonda Riley Monnin, Teresa Comer, Carolyn Poling, Crystal Hartzell, Jacki Stonebraker, Kris Barlage, Christy Baker, Judy Lumby, Joann Eilerman, Roberta Condon, Sandy Peters, Judy Benkert, Suzanne Hippley, Jeff Cochran, Cindy Grogean, Jenny Pleiman, Aunt Martha Magoto, Betty Monnin, Rita Brandon, Kasey Christian, Carrie Dehart, Samantha Keiser, Allison Reed, Mark Thomas, Andy Leach, as their birthdays approach. Anniversary wishes to Betsy and Jeremy Yagle (7), Ashlee and Dustin Lewis (10), Tammy and Bruce Magoto (20), Deb and Ted Blakeley (24), Judy and Jeff Cochran (29), Marcy and Bill Roll (41), Debbie and Dave Richard (43), and Marie and Bill Todd (45).

Please give your supportive and healing prayers for the many who are dealing with any of life’s countless challenges, and especially for Zachary Browder, Bill Luthman, Amanda Danheim, Theresa Borgerding, Theresa Buteau, Chris Apple, Miriam Harman, Jack Monnin, Mary Batty, Norma Magoto, Anne Schmitz, Cy Gehret, Donna and Terry Black, Ron Bruner, Connie Ecabert, Wanda and Joe Bailey, Betty Kremer, Dan Roseberry, Denny Grilliot, Beverly Brown, Linda Kendinger, Harold Langston, Sr., Julie Keihl, Joan Magoto, Jeanne Brandon, Ruth Haft, Rosie Pearson, Virginia Smith, John Subler, Mary Barga, Anabelle Subler, Julia Billenstein, Merilyn Borchers, Connie (Baltes) Lechleiter, Jack Borgerding, Dan Monnin, Lois Youngker, Barb Goubeaux, Cyril Frantz, Eileen Rahm, Cyril Voisard, Samantha Smith, Brian Voisard, and all those not mentioned by name who are ill, suffering, hospitalized, homebound and/or in need of our prayers and their caregivers.

Heartfelt sympathy to the family and friends of Nichole Painter (34), Stanley Grieshop (49), Robert Lyme (80), Doris Zimmerman (81), Lawrence DeMange (85), and also remembering the lives of Miriam Slonkosky, Michael Liette, Verena Bohman and Bernadine Homan, also remembering the lives of Dr. Jerry Mestemaker, Clara Paulus, Dan Eilerman, John Gearhardt, Alma Treon, Dick Brandon, Mary Monnin, Paul Pepiot, Eileen Morgan, Stew Prakel, Winnie Davidson, Dale Weese, Ed Bruns, Judy Brodrick and all those in our hearts but not mentioned by name as the anniversary of their recently passing.

“A father is the one who holds you when you cry, scolds you when you break the rules, shines with pride when you succeed and has faith in you even when you fall.” ~Unknown

“A ‘Real Dad’ leaves evidence of accountability, reliability, teaching, coaching, lessons learned, growth, maturity, inspiration, perseverance, faith, love, family, and home.” ~Ty Howard

“Whether we call him Father, Dad, Daddy, Pop, Pa, Dada, Papa, what we are really saying is ‘I belong to you and I love you’.” ~C. Edwards