Recently I heard about an 8-year-old boy who hasn’t seen his daddy for several years. On Anzac Day, the boy said, “We can remember Daddy, like we remember the soldiers.”
How sad!
If you miss your daddy
This story made me think about all those who miss their daddy, no matter their age. So, this post is for you.
Perhaps your father has died. Now that he has gone, you wish you had listened more to the stories he told. He told them so many times that you just switched off. Now that you are older, you’d like to know more about his life and family. You yearn to ask his advice for the problems you are having now. But you can’t. Perhaps you feel guilty about that.
Perhaps your father was not a good listener. If he talked at all, he just talked AT you, bossing you around. You felt that you could never please him, so why bother?
Perhaps he seemed too busy with other things to take time for you: his work; sport; television; hobbies; or his mates. Perhaps he was addicted to something. He always had time for that, but he never had time for you.
Perhaps your parents have separated or divorced. Some people say that when parents can’t get along, separation is best for the children. But, as a child in this situation, you may not feel that anything is good about it. You may have wondered if the separation was your fault and that you are to blame for the problems. Maybe you felt that it was your behaviour that caused the stress. Or maybe you felt unloved and unwanted as your parents focused so much on themselves that they didn’t have time to see or meet your needs.
Perhaps your father has hurt you so much that you have deliberately cut off all contact. You don’t see him anymore, but even thinking about him still makes you angry.
The only perfect father
God calls himself ‘Our Father.’ He says that we are his adopted children:
The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.
Romans 8:15a
The Greek word for adoption to sonship is a term referring to the full legal standing of an adopted male heir in Roman culture. God doesn’t see us as illegitimate children, but He CHOSE to adopt us as children and heirs!
God wants us to call him ‘Abba,’ the Aramaic word for father used by children. ‘Abba’ signifies the close, intimate relationship of father and child, and the childlike trust that the child puts in his “daddy.”
And by him [the Spirit] we cry, “Abba, Father.”
Romans 8:15b
Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.”
Galatians 4:6
God loves you!
No matter what your own father was/is like, God, our heavenly Father, promises that His love will never fail:
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:38-39
God doesn’t promise that we won’t have hardship and troubles, but He says that He will be with us, no matter what happens:
But now, this is what the Lord says—
He who created you, Jacob, He who formed you, Israel:
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
And when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.Isaiah 43:1-2
When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.
Do not be anxious
If you have ever felt like the little boy at the start of this story who misses his daddy, then hear God’s words, promising you His peace:
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Phillipians 4:6-7
Prayer
Dear Abba, Heavenly Father
Thank you that you chose me to be your child. Thank you for adopting me into your family of believers. Thank you that you are the perfect parent.
Help me to see my own earthly father as you see him. Help me to forgive my father as you have forgiven me.
Help me to turn to you for the peace and love that I crave.
Thank you that you promise to love me always. Thank you that you always keep your promises.
I pray for the perfect peace that only You can give. Amen.
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