In the late sixties he gave his life to Christ, gave up drugs, and married June Carter. A couple of years later his son, John Carter Cash, was born.

Johnny Cash was determined not to repeat the mistakes that he made with his four daughters. One significant change was that Cash spent a lot of time with his son. He took John on the road with him. When they were home, he took him fishing. When John became an adult, father and son worked together in the studio, and they wrote songs together. They were, in Johnny’s words, “like soul mates.”

Johnny Cash will always be remembered as a legend in country music. But when he was once asked how he would like to remembered, he simply said, “I’d like to be remembered as a good daddy.”

Paul tells us, almost in passing, what it means to be a ‘good daddy.’ Here’s how the Message says it…

With each of you we were like a father with his child, holding your hand, whispering encouragement, showing you step-by-step how to live well before God, who called us into his own kingdom, into this delightful life. (1 Thessalonians 2:11-12)

That’s the process of being a good dad. It involves some hand-holding, some whispered encouragement, and some step-by-step teaching. Dads, here’s to meeting the challenge.

Derek was competing for the medal in the 400 meter race. Less than half-way through, he ripped a hamstring muscle and fell to the ground in agony. While the rest of the runners moved past him, Derek managed to get to his feet and began struggling to move forward.

Then something caught the attention of the television cameras. An older man wearing blue shorts and a Nike “Just Do It” cap pushed past a security guard onto the race track. It was Derek’s father, Jim.

At first Derek shrugged him away, saying, “I’m going to finish the race.” Jim said to his son, “We’ve started everything together. We’ll finish this together.”

He put his arm around his son and held him as they crossed the finish line together. The crowd erupted into thunderous applause; it has become a classic moment in sports.

In fact, Oliver Irish, columnist for the UK based Observer, called it one of the top 10 “teary moments” in sports. He said, “Not many moments … remain so poignant that they can reduce grown men to tears, but this is a bona fide weepy.”

This story challenges me, as it challenges all fathers, to do whatever I can to help my children finish the race. Even if—especially if—they stumble along the way.

In the book of Isaiah, God said, Listen to me…you whom I have upheld since you were conceived, and have carried since your birth. Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you. (Isaiah 46:3-4)

Fathers, by God’s grace may we live with such strength and integrity that we can say these words to our sons and daughters.

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Project Brasil has a free bulletin insert of this story HERE (THIS IS A PDF FILE.)

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Here is a video of the Derek Redmond story. (Note: If you search on Derek Redmond at You Tube, you’ll find many more videos of the same event, some have developed with a scriptural theme.)