What does Father mean to you?

As a child this word would mean the man I went to with all my questions. The one I’d run to when I was afraid. The one who would play pillow fights with me on Saturday mornings and then get up to make apple pancakes.

Father meant the man who came and prayed with me at bedtime so that I knew where to go when I felt afraid.

Father meant the man who showed me what strength was most strongly when I saw his tears.

Father meant the man who I could talk about life with, and would help guide me as I figured out what I thought and believed.

Father meant the man who made it his first priority to point me towards The Father, because he knew that those were shoes he’d never completely be able to fill.

My Dad isn’t perfect, in some ways he treated me to much like an adult, expecting me to be able to handle things at a younger age than I could, because I was so articulate in my understanding; in other ways he protected me to much and didn’t push me hard enough, as he sought to make a life made difficult by illness easier on me.

Still, for most these days, Father will mean much less than it does to me.

Today I praise every Father who tries. None can be The Perfect Father but God alone, but you who try do much to point the way. Every effort means more to your children than you could possibly ever know.

Today I praise every Man who fills the gap of Father. Our society as a whole has disregarded the importance of a father. Thank You for recognizing an essential need.

Today I praise the One who is The Father. When our weakness fails, You hold strong. In You we find the champion our hearts need.

The righteous man walks in his integrity; blessed (happy, fortunate, enviable) are his children after him. Proverbs 20:7 AMP

Happy Father’s Day!

~Joy Aletheia Stevens

Photo Credit: New Father by Sharon Mollerus  (CC BY 2.0)