The Best Father

Yesterday we celebrated Father’s Day, and social media was flooded with pictures and words of honor for fathers of all ages – both those living and those now dead.  Parenthood is a privilege, and we should take time to appreciate those in our lives who have served us in this role.  I also posted some photos and words about my own father, who passed away eight and a half years ago.

But I couldn’t help but think about those whose family experiences have not been as positive as mine.  What about those whose own fathers were difficult or even evil men?  What about those who never knew their own fathers?  What about those whose desires to become fathers have not been fulfilled?  What about those whose fathers left this earth earlier than most – while still productive, young men?  Holidays like Father’s Day are not celebrations of joy for everyone.

 

But we all have a Father in heaven who is perfect and will always be a perfect Father to us.  He will never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5); he loves us with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3) that is patient and kind and keeps no record of wrongs                (1 Corinthians 13:4-7); he is always seeking to do what’s best for us; and when discipline from him is necessary, it is always motivated by his deep love for us (Proverbs 3:12).  A paraphrase of Hebrews 12:6 tells us that God as our father accepts us, cherishes us, and welcomes us to his heart!  He exhibits an ideal balance between firmness and affection that is reflected in the words of a Jewish scholar in Biblical times, who stated that a good father should “push away with the left hand and draw near with the right hand”.  Our heavenly Father also offers unlimited forgiveness – regardless of how many times we need to repent and turn away from the same sins.

No matter what kind of earthly father you had or how long you had him in your life, every day can be a day of rejoicing in the amazing truth that the God of the universe has chosen to call you his child: “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!  And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1).  Thankfulness for this incredible gift can and should flow from each of us as we ponder what it means to have such a perfect Father for all of eternity.