Father's Day

As small children we learn that our father’s awesome strength has power over our lives, whether to protect, teach or discipline.

Remember when we were very young, how we would look forward to his coming home after work? How we would run to him and he would scoop us into his arms and hold us close? And he always brought a surprise when he returned after a trip, some little thing. Just something to show he was thinking about us when we were apart.

Sometimes in a bad mood or just plain cross with our world, we weren’t eager to run to his arms when he came home, dreading to face the punishment we had earned. Sometimes he would have to search for us, to make us face his discipline and forgiveness before we were ready for the hugs we longed for.  

As we became older, that fear morphed into anger at not being allowed to do what we want. We made excuses and pouted when disciplined. We didn’t yearn for his company—we blamed his rules for our misery. He was old-fashioned, out of date. We might grudgingly acknowledge shame at our misstep. Perhaps not until we became parents did we fully appreciate the love behind the discipline, the reasons behind “Because I said so”. 

But some of us learned early in life not to trust our imperfect father and yearned for the relationship we saw in other families. We may have found impatience or indifference instead of love. Avoiding his homecoming became routine; we would grow bitter. Life isn’t fair.

God gave us human families so we could see a picture, though dimly, of the relationship He seeks with each of us. For those of us without parents able to provide this image of love, God planted the yearning for perfect love in our hearts for that something missing that only our Heavenly Father can freely give. A love we can trust to provide discipline and guidance if we look beyond the momentary discomfort with which He draws our attention to Him.   

                                         FATHER’S HANDS                         

             My Father’s hands, so big and strong

Lift me up when things go wrong;

When His hands hold me near,

I know there is naught to fear;

His hands so gently, without wrath,

Nudge me firmly back onto His path;

My Father’s hands hold me tight

And keep me safe throughout the night.

For it is God who works in you both to will and
to do for His good pleasure.   Philippians 2:13