
Father’s Day is a day to recognize the father of our children, and our own fathers. For some of us, this is bittersweet. For others, it can be a reminder of the father they never knew or the father they wish they had.
I am blessed beyond measure. My father was a great man. He always tried to the right thing. He worked hard to provide for our family and still showed up and coached my softball team and went to every dance recital. He also bought us Barbies because he knew we would love them. One year for Valentine’s Day, he stopped on his way home from work and meticulously picked out a Barbie for me whose package was in pristine condition. I collected Barbies at that time and so I always left them in the box. He told us when he got to the counter to pay that the kid behind the counter reached a huge hand out to grab the Barbie and scan it and daddy told him, “NO!” Because he was afraid that this young man with large hands was going to crush the box. This is just one of a million ways that he demonstrated his love for us. He was caring and kind and smart. He was going to help me with my Geometry in high school once and pulled out an old slide rule. I didn’t let him help me with my homework because we no longer used slide-rules. But that’s the kind of dad he was. He was always willing to help. He was a great example of what a good father should be. He wasn’t perfect but I never doubted that he loved me. I always knew he had my back and would protect me no matter what. I miss him every day.
In addition, to my own father, I have a wonderful father-in-law that loves his children and grandchildren well and includes me in that list. And mostly, I am thankful that he has always been a great example of a great father. A trait that he passed on to my sweet husband.
I am thankful that I married a man that in many ways is a lot like my dad. He is generous and kind and loving. He has always been actively involved in the care of our children from their very first days. He works hard to provide for us and is so gentle with these boys of ours. He is a tremendous example of what it means to be a good father. My children are so blessed to have him as their dad, and I am so blessed to have him by my side.
The beautiful examples of earthly fathers loving their children well gives us a small glimpse into the perfection of our Heavenly Father above. I know that he loves me and delights in me. He provides for me and protects me. Just as my earthly father did.
But it breaks my heart that not everyone has such wonderful examples of fathers in their lives. We don’t often talk enough about the impact that our earthly father has on our relationship with our Heavenly Father. It is hard to imagine a loving, patient, forgiving Father in Heaven when our earthly father was not present, was not kind, was often angry, or used manipulation, control, and abuse towards us.
With this in mind, it is important that we stand guard. Good fathers, please keep your eyes open and your hearts in tune to love children within your community well. You might just be the father figure that child needs. This can also translate to adult relationships, too. We all need elders in our lives pouring in wisdom and caring for us. These relationships may be just the examples needed to help someone have a clearer picture of the great love that our Heavenly Father has for us.
Or maybe, you, yourself, do not have a good example of God’s love for us in your relationship with your own father. I am so sorry. I hope that you will search God’s word for who he says you are to Him. I pray that you will have great men come alongside you in your community that will love you well and pour wisdom and kindness into your life in a very real way. I pray that in these healthy relationships that you will begin to see the immense and unconditional love of God the Father. I pray that this will help you to strive to be a great father to your own children and to the children in your community that also need to experience God’s love.
My prayer for all of the men in my community today is that you would know great fathers, that you would be great fathers, and that you would strive to reflect the love of our Heavenly Father in every relationship and in every interaction that you have with others.
Happy Father’s Day!
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