See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are.
1 John 3:1 NASB
As we reflect on Father’s Day, I am reminded that every healthy picture of fatherhood begins with our Heavenly Father. Before we ever learn what it means to be a son or daughter, a husband or wife, a mother or father, we are first invited into a relationship with the One who created us, loves us, provides for us, corrects us, and welcomes us into His presence. What a comfort it is to know that no matter what we face, we have a Father in Heaven who is never too busy for us! We can come to Him in times of joy, sorrow, confusion, fear, or need. His door is never closed. His attention is never divided. His love is never earned and never withdrawn. As fathers, grandfathers, mentors, and spiritual leaders, our highest calling is to reflect His heart and the amazing love He has for His children.
Yet we live in a culture facing an epidemic of fatherlessness. Many children grow up without a father in the home. Others have fathers who are physically present but emotionally absent. Some dads spend their lives working hard to provide for their families, only to discover that the people they love most feel disconnected from them. Years ago, when I was in my twenties, I experienced a moment that has stayed with me ever since. A friend and I were heading into downtown Chicago for dinner when her father handed her a couple of $100 bills as we were leaving. In the mid-1980s, that was a significant amount of money. As we drove away, she began to cry and said, “That’s what he does. He always throws money at us when all we really want is his time.” Her father had achieved what many would call success—a beautiful home, financial security, and every outward sign of prosperity. Yet what his daughter longed for most could never be purchased. She simply wanted her dad.
That experience has challenged me for decades and still raises an important question: What kind of fathers are we? Are we investing ourselves in our children today, or are we postponing those moments for a future date when life finally slows down a bit? The conversations, ball games, family dinners, walks, prayers, and simple moments of presence that seem ordinary today often become the memories our children treasure tomorrow. Harry Chapin captured this reality so powerfully in the song Cats in the Cradle, when the son repeatedly asks, “When you comin’ home, Dad?” and the father responds, “I don’t know when, but we’ll get together then son, you know we’ll have a good time then.” The tragedy of the song is not that the father did not love his son – it’s that he kept postponing the relationship until later. As believers, we have the privilege and responsibility of pointing the next generation to their Heavenly Father by the way we love, lead, serve, and spend time with them today.
With all this in mind, will you pray with me?
Father, thank You for loving us perfectly and calling us Your children. Thank You that we can come boldly into Your presence at any time and find grace, mercy, wisdom, and strength. Thank You that even when we fall short as fathers, husbands, grandfathers, or spiritual leaders, Your grace is greater than our failures. Thank You that You are a God of second chances who restores, redeems, and helps us begin again. Help us to reflect Your heart in our homes and relationships. Forgive us for the times we have allowed busyness, work, or distractions to crowd out what matters most. Teach us to love our children and grandchildren well, to be present in their lives, and to point them faithfully to You. May our lives reflect the compassion, patience, faithfulness, and love of our Heavenly Father so that future generations will know and follow You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Rejoicing in hope,
Dion Elmore
Vice President