Father’s Day. The impact of the day will be different for folks depending on how we grew up. Some of us had loving fathers who were always around and rarely became impatient or preoccupied. Many see our fathers as a loving, caring, and a positive influence on who we are today.
I have a notion that there are others, like me, who never grew up with a father or father figure, or even a weekend father. Some may have lived with a father whom you feared. A parent who punished you rather than took the time to correct you when you took a misstep, misbehaved, or acted out. Whatever relationship you had with a father or no father greatly influenced your opinion of who God is, I have no doubt.
The Bible tells us God is our heavenly father. But many of us have no idea what a genuine relationship with a father is, so we find it difficult to relate to the Almighty Father. But here’s some good news. No matter how you grew up, God, our Father is still the same God, the One we learn about in the Bible. We only need to avail ourselves to discover His attributes.
Best of all, he wants that Father/child connection with each of us. “And I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.” 2Corinthians 6:18 and “As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.” Psalm 103:13.
No matter what happened in the past, allow God to welcome you into His kingdom and into your heart. He is a good, good Father.