A Perfect Father
By Julia Fowler, Worship Arts Pastor
"The righteous man walks in his integrity; his children are blessed after him." —Proverbs 20:7
My father once admitted to me, "When you were growing up, I wasn't there as much as I should have been."
I don't really remember it that way. Besides working his full-time job, he was gone some evenings to direct choir practice at church, some times to visit in parishioners' homes or make hospital calls. Occasionally I would see him across the street in his office working late at night to prepare for Sunday services. But for all the significant (and many small) moments of my life—he was there.
For instance, he was always cheering on the sidelines at basketball & volleyball games, piano recitals, singing competitions, encouraging my creativity and challenging me to go hard and give everything my best effort. In so many little ways, he has always let my brother and me know that we are important to him and that he loves us very much.
Watching my father love, care and provide for my mother in such a tender way still teaches me today what unselfish love really looks like. My 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.
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 you can leave your children.
Happy Father's Day!
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