My Father

“My dad is better than your dad.”  Do you ever hear children comparing their fathers, making sure that everyone else knows just how truly impressive their dad really is?  Dad’s are strong and able.  They can fix anything and know how to do everything.  They make us feel safe and loved.  When you are a child, your dad is your hero.  Boys want to be like their dads and girls want to marry a man just like him.  As we get older, we begin to know that he isn’t quite as perfect as we thought, but it doesn’t matter.  He’s still the best.

That’s how I felt about my dad.  As a matter of fact, I still do.  I’ve often wondered how he was able to balance everything that needed to be done and still make us feel like whatever we were doing was the most important thing in the world at that time.  My dad owned his own business and there was always work to be done, but he always made time for us.  I don’t know that he ever missed a ball game that any of us played, even if that meant going back to work, sometimes until 2 or 3 in the morning.  Dad is the one we called when something broke or there was a problem.  He was so confident that we all truly believed that he could do anything that needed to be done.  He used to tell my kids, “I’m a professional.”  I’m not sure what they thought that meant, but one time when my daughter got hurt she wouldn’t let anyone look at it but my dad.  When we asked why, she said, “because he’s a professional.”  Even my children thought he could do anything.  As a child, I wasn’t really ever afraid of anything.  I assumed if there was a reason to worry, my parents would let me know.  I just thought that my dad would keep us safe.  My dad took care of us and loved us no matter what.  There was nothing that we could do to change that.  Not only was he good to us but I always thought that he treated my mom like a princess.  There was no doubt that he loved her.  He showed it in everything that he did.  My brothers and I are truly blessed to have him as our dad!

Now was my dad really the strongest man alive?  Could he really do anything?  Could he have protected us from absolutely anything that could harm us?  No, of course not.  Did my mom always feel like a princess?  I’m sure that she didn’t.  But I do have a Father that is perfect.  His name is I AM because He is…  the strongest and the most able.  He can fix anything.  He has the power to keep me safe.  He sees everything that I do and He treats me like a princess.  He is my Heavenly Father.  I don’t know if you had an earthly dad that you trusted and respected, a dad that protected you and made you feel special, but I know that you have that in a Heavenly Father.  I know that you can trust Him with your life.  He will never let you down and He will never fail you.  He really is the strongest and He really can do anything. You can go to Him when you are afraid or sad.  You can call on Him when there is a problem or when you need help.  Since He created everything, He can definitely fix anything.  He not only can protect you from harm but He can save your soul.  He loves you with an unconditional, sacrificial love that never, ever fails.  There is nothing that you can do to make Him quit loving you.  The Bible says that nothing can separate us from His love and that He yearns jealously for us.  Jesus gave His life so that we could have life eternal with the Father.  That is how much He loves each one of us.  Our Heavenly Father really is the best!  There is no one that can compare to Him.

So today, on this Father’s Day, honor and praise all the wonderful earthly fathers out there.  But above all, honor and praise your Heavenly Father. If you happen to be a dad that struggles and fails sometimes just look to your Heavenly Father, know that He still loves you, and like a child follow in His every footstep.  If you have an earthly dad that struggles or has failed you in some way, know that you still have a Dad you can look up to and that you are special to Him.  Our Dad really is the very best!