Too many of us can echo the words of Cindy Kasper. My father once admitted to me, “When you were growing up, I was gone a lot.”
I don’t remember that. Besides working his full-time job, he was gone some evenings to direct choir practice at church, and he occasionally traveled for a week or two with a men’s quartet. But for all the significant (and many small) moments of my life—he was there.
For instance, when I was 8, I had a tiny part in an afternoon play at school. All the mothers came, but only one dad—mine. In many little ways, he has always let my sisters and me know that we are important to him and that he loves us. And seeing him tenderly caring for my mom in the last few years of her life taught me exactly what unselfish love looks like. Dad isn’t perfect, but he’s always been a dad who gives me a good glimpse of my heavenly Father. And ideally, that’s what a Christian dad should do.
At times earthly fathers disappoint or hurt their children. But our Father in heaven is “merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy” (Ps. 103:8). When a dad who loves the Lord corrects, comforts, instructs, and provides for the needs of his children, he models for them our perfect Father in heaven.
Fathers are perfect but they make a world of difference. Don’t think so harshly of yourself, dad. They love you more than you know. Enjoy the day and enjoy your family. And to coin a phrase from the sermon, Get In the Game!
How blessed are the children
Who in their fathers see
The tender Father-love of God,
And find their way to Thee. —Johnson
A life lived for Christ is the best inheritance we can leave our children.
Michael