The previous week I was not struck by any particular topic to muse on and Fathers Day
just sort of “happened” line any other day. I will admit to having a Pity Patty
Party at intervals throughout the weekend as my sons no longer have a father
(nor I a husband) and my father died in 1999. But many of my friends are in the
same situation as my sons and I are, so I am celebrating the great fathers we
had—despite the fact that I missed the correct day.
Three
fathers in one picture (October 1982)—L to R my brother and his family, my dad
and mom at their 40th anniversary celebration and my family—Dean and
the boys
I
watched a documentary on Haper Lee recently. In To Kill a Mockingbird, she painted a picture of a great father, a
man of integrity and kindness. This character was actually based on her
father—what a great tribute, because her book, and the movie by the same name,
are classics which will probably endure for many more years in the future.
Seems
like the phrase, father knows best, needs to be put in here somewhere. The TV
show, Father Knows Best, is another classic and aired from 1954-1963 Unfortunately,
our culture has evolved through a time of picturing that father doesn’t know
best. And sometimes there is no father figure in a home to know, or not know,
best. But when father is accorded the respect that God gave him as head of the
home, the phrase rings true because he is depending on the Father Who always
knows best.
So
that brings us to the One Who began it all—our heavenly Father. In at least one
place in the Gospels, when Jesus is praying, He speaks to God as Abba Father.
In our vernacular He was calling out to Daddy. Now that is not so surprising to
think of Jesus talking with His Father in that fashion. But in Paul’s letter to
the Romans in chapter 8 he explains that we who are believers in Christ have
been adopted into God’s family and now we, also, have the right and privilege
to call on Him as Abba Father--Daddy. I
guess that should make every day a Happy Children’s DayJ
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