Sometimes things are just hard. Father’s day is hard for much of the population. It’s especially hard for those of us who have been abandoned by our human father. It’s hard for those who have to attempt civility with their abusive ex-fellow in order to do a visitation exchange with the children. There are more similar and varied situations – as many as there are people. Some things are just hard.
I used to feel awkward, weird, and abandoned on Father’s day. My dad was not in my life for many different reasons when I was younger and he still is not. In my past, sometimes I’d wonder if I should give my mother a father’s day card because she filled both roles. I thought that she should be recognized for that. I don’t think I ever did that.
About five years ago, I faced my father issues head on with my heavenly Father. There are songs about God as Father. There are verses about God as Father. People prayed to God the Father. Jesus called God the Father. To me, it was weird. I didn’t want to. It took a while but I finally addressed that weirdness.
The Bible says “you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory.”[1]
First, Adopted children are chosen, adopted children are loved, against all odds. Thus, against all odds, in spite of all the hard stuff, you are loved. Heirs at law inherit property in an estate after a person dies. So, together with Christ, all that is in the Kingdom of God we are welcomed into during our life. Jesus is the Prince of that Kingdom and we are princes and princesses in that Kingdom. Once I considered all that, I moved on to what these amazing facts mean to my life.
I considered who God is to me. I considered the idea that he is my heavenly Father. I pray to him, I talk to him, I live under his protection. I sit with him and exist. I seek guidance and advice from him. I tell Him all my wants, desires, and dreams. All those situations are what an earthly father does for us. But, it’s kinda better.
There are no limits to this Father. He can sit and listen for as long as you can sit and speak. His resources are limit-less. His time never wears out. He does not need to rest. He provides all good things. He makes all good things work for our good. He gives beyond all we can imagine. We are under His protection all ways. We are loved beyond all comprehension. This Father is amazing.
Abba is a familiar form of father, or daddy. So we can come to the God who is above all other gods and be familiar with him. We can come to Him as a beloved daughter. When we come to him, he turns His head, stoops to us, inclines his head, and listens.
Maybe these thoughts on God our Father will help you today. Maybe the next time you go to pray, you’ll go to the Almighty as Abba the way Jesus did. Maybe you feel weird about father’s day the way I did and maybe now you don’t.
Happy Father’s Day.
[1] Romans 8:15-17 (NLT)
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