Therefore be imitators of God [copy Him and follow His example], as well-beloved children [imitate their father]. Ephesians 5:1 AMP

I’ve never had a huge problem with the idea of God being a loving father. I’ve had friends that had a hard time with the idea but I never did. I’ve always attributed this to my own father who was a great dad. Still, as I read this verse I see an area of my walk that could do with some growth.

I LOVE being my fathers daughter! My Dad is great. I adored him as a little girl and he influenced me in ways I doubt he realized.

The only reason I like grapefruit is because of my Dad.

I’m serious! It’s a very sour fruit and I don’t think I would have liked it on its merits alone, but my Dad liked grapefruit, so I did too.

I can think of so many ways he influenced my life. And honestly only a small portion of those were in what he said, so much of it was in how he lived, and how I wanted to live like him.

My Dad is ordained, He’s never been a head pastor of a church but I’ve heard him preach many sermons. I was always so proud of him when he did. He has officiated at weddings, and at funerals, he’s performed baptisms, he baptized me in fact. But more than that he’s been a servant to many. And all this I watched.

In any church he’s a part of it doesn’t take long for him to start being, well, everywhere. Involved at every level, supporting whoever he can. He quickly becomes known for his heart and his love for people, his willingness to serve and his humility. He very quickly would become well known and appreciated and I was so PROUD to walk in that shadow.

“Yeah, Wayne, that’s my Dad!”

And I’ve valued his input in my life almost like a fine treasure. I’ve brought to him so many questions, but also just enjoyed so many discussions. To this day one of my favorite people to talk to is my dad. Whether we are talking about his latest woodworking project, politics, scripture, or life, I love bringing all of my thoughts to him, and I love to hear what he’s thinking. Some of my favorite memories are out at the lake, my dad knee deep in water with a fishing rod, me sitting on a rock, just talking for hours.

I’m not saying my Dad was perfect, he’s not, and I’ll even admit he made some pretty big mistakes in a few of his choices in my growing up years. Still on the grand scale of Dad’s today, and when hearing of so many dead-beats, my Dad is pretty much astronomically awesome.

And I can pretty much guarantee that as he is reading this I’ve made him blubber and feel humbled and like he doesn’t deserve it a bit. But anyone who knows him will tell you the same, my Dad is one fantastic guy.

So when I spotted the above verse in the amplified version, it really struck me square in the face. All little children imitate. It’s either adorable as you find them copying what you do, or it’s worrying as you find them copying some of your less savory words and habits. But a well-beloved child? That takes the whole thing to another level.

I’m pretty sure there isn’t as many people as there should be who know what it is to be a well-beloved child who will follow their daddy anywhere. But I do. And as I read this verse the one question that filled my mind was this: Do I relate to God the same way I relate to my Dad?

I’ve already said I’ve never had a problem with the idea of God being a loving Father, and I suppose in some ways I relate to Him as such, but do I relate to Him this way as much as I do my own father?

Am I proud to call Him Father? Do I boast about it? “Yeah, God, that’s MY Dad!” Do I hang on His words? Always willing to listen to His thoughts? Always ready to discuss His interests? Am I eager to share my thoughts and ideas with Him? Can I talk to Him for hours on end? Do I find myself choosing things I wouldn’t have normally chosen, because that would be His choice? Do I imitate Him, follow Him, like a small child obsessed with their great, big, strong, wise, daddy?

I think its easy to skim over this verse and not really see the depth of relationship spoken of here, but it really is a deep relationship. In this culture of absentee fathers it might not seem like a big deal to imitate God like a child imitates their father, but honestly, it’s our parents who shape so much of who we are.

Does God shape who you are?

I’m left with a desire to dive more deeply into this experience of knowing God. I want to have the abundance of a relationship this deep with Him. Because I have a taste of what that kind of father-daughter relationship is like on a human level it just wets my appetite for more.

I remember dancing with my Dad at my wedding to the song Butterfly Kisses. He blubbered. It was a very special song to us that I actually rewrote and sang one  year for fathers day to be from the daughters perspective, he blubbered then too. As we danced we sang it to each other, and I doubt there was a dry eye in the place. I remember at the end I sang “And I’ll always be your little girl.” and my Dad had tears in his eyes. It’s so very true though, no matter where I go, or what I do, even now that I’m Wife and Mom and all these things, I’m still deep down in my heart my Daddy’s little girl. I always will be.

Just like I’ll always be God’s little girl too.

~Joy Aletheia Stevens

Wedding Photo Credit: Greg Cook