Fathers Day - Scenes of our Father's

Many of us have lost our earthly fathers, or never knew them. Despite the challenge, we can rely on the unconditional love of our Heavenly Father. Our Father in heaven provides what we need and is the help of our earthly dads. Thank you, Yahweh, for loving and leading our dads.

SCENE I ~ She woke up bright and early, eager to hurry to the phone to make the call. A sweet, heartwarming message, “Hey dad, happy Father’s Day!” Her feet hit the floor as she heads to the phone, picks it up to begin the dialing, and then it happens. The words “He is gone” echo in her memory. She gets somber for a minute. Tiny tears attempt to well up in her eyes. She takes a slow deep breath and thinks, “She doesn’t need a phone. She can talk to him from her heart straight to heaven’s door.”

In challenging times, knowing we have a father who will always lift us is a comforting thought. You can always count on him. We can turn to Him in our daily walks. He wants us to place our faith and hope in Him. Embracing God’s presence and dedicating our lives to Him empowers us to achieve anything.

(Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”)

SCENE II ~She woke today to the baby calling from her crib. She reaches for her slippers to give her footing, to hold her as she hoists the little one to her hip. As soon as she attends to the little one, providing a fresh diaper and sip cup of juice, she will make her way to the office of her small apartment.

Here she finds a comfy spot to sit at her computer. She opens it up because she knows their Skype session will ensue. He’s deployed in Afghanistan’s desert, far from her, making the timing very precise. She has awaited this early morning call for most of the week. It is Father’s Day, and she is so excited to see the man she loves as he shares his few minutes of joy with her and their baby.

It is the best present he can imagine as he lives out his days in a chaotic war world far away from his loved ones. The web camera turns green, and there He is, and mom smiles.

Let’s celebrate a father who, despite a tough upbringing, rose above his circumstances to create a brighter future for his family.

Scene III: A five-year-old, aware of the day. He knows it is “Fathers Day.” He is keenly aware at a young age that today is the day his grandma and he would take the annual trip to see his daddy.

His grandmother has prepared everything, a routine for the last three years. His clothes are neatly on the bed, and he has specific instructions to head to the bathroom and brush his teeth immediately following breakfast. They will take one final glance around the worn-down house, affected by urban wear and tear, before leaving. It’s still dark outside as they make their way to the corner. They will catch the Metro Bus and then go to the bus terminal.

They’ll board a more comfortable bus. Gram has packed some snacks and toys for their long journey. He’s eager for his dad’s visit, despite six buses. Their visit proves brief given the considerable travel time.

Annual trips exhaust Gram due to her heart condition. What better day to allow a child to hug his father? It is Father’s Day. Even with his mistakes, this daddy wants better for his son. He sits in his cell, praying that Gram will stay alive to see the little guy through. He prays that his little one will listen and stay on a straight path, and in time, they witness the answer to these prayers.

This same young man will grow; after twenty-five long and dedicated years have passed, he will share this story with his son. They will also ride a bus; it will head to New York City from the suburbs where he has lived for the past five years with his lovely wife.

His son is also five years old as they head for the Christmas Show at Radio City Music Hall. This young boy is the excited child the young couple chose for adoption. They picked him as their first tiny human to guide and mentor. The young man, now a father, aimed to give a child similar to himself an opportunity, a child without a Gram like his own. He broke the cycle of negativity, becoming a responsible father due to his grandmother’s influence. He was the change because somebody loved him, and his story was different because of the faith of a mustard seed.

The faith that a worn and tired gram placed in her father in heaven and her tomorrow, she displayed and then shared with her grandson.

Today we celebrated dads; resilient in the face of adversity, they persevere, inspiring their children.

SCENE IV~ He sets his work clothes out each night. He always wants to present his best for the job he feels so blessed to have. He has faced many challenges in life, but his strength and courage have carried him through, especially for his family.

Many he loves, including himself, struck by storms of illness, but he has battled through them. Faced with an economy that no longer rewards hard work and loyalty, he adapts to become a provider. He feels very grateful for what he has. Still, He knows that although a professional that gives one hundred percent, because of the economic downturn, he will always understand the stress of making ends meet.

No matter how he sees himself, his children and wife adore him. Their faces were beaming as they prepared a meal they’d planned with great care, eager to express their appreciation for his love and dedication. They appreciate he is hungry for the word of God and makes it a priority to keep his family grounded in their walk. He admits his imperfections and asks for support when he needs it. His family is proud of him, for he is a dad that goes over every hurdle.

If he knocks something over, he goes back and jumps over one more time. He does his utmost to stay ahead of the proverbial snake. When it gets close, he turns on his steadfast heels, spits at the slithering poison, and says, GET OFF MY BACK AND THAT OF MY FAMILY!

Our Father who art in heaven hallowed is Thy name.

We are thankful for our dads in the daily grind.

Ultimately, God’s omnipotence reigns everywhere. We honor, praise, and worship you today and always. We are so grateful for your unconditional love and so very thankful for our earthly fathers.

Whether present in our daily lives or awaiting our reunion with them in heaven, we honor the fathers who tried their best to make things better for their children.

Ultimately, we are in awe of a Father who would unconditionally give us His love and protection as He wraps us in His arms. We are obedient and eager to learn lessons from all of our fathers.