As I am sure you know, yesterday was Father's Day. The greeting card industry works extra hard this month to remind us how our important our fathers are. And they're right; dads certainly matter. But here's a Father's Day card Hallmark won't be printing anytime soon. Happy Father's Day: To a dad who makes mistakes, loses his cool, misses the mark, hurts my feelings, ignores my needs, gets too wrapped up in himself, and sometimes does serious damage to my heart and life. How's that for a heart warmer? Even the best dads are guilty of some of these behaviors some of the time. And the worst dads are capable of taking these actions and sometimes doing much worse. Why? Because they are 100 percent human. But there is a father whose love is truly unconditional, whose mood or feelings about us are not subject to change, who knows what is best for us and does it, and who is able to provide all that we will ever need. Many times in Scripture, God is described as our Father. And on this day, it seems fitting to take a look at the promises our heavenly Dad makes to us. So here's a list of passages that would make great Hallmark cards. They're straight out of God's Word, and they are a beautiful reminder that no matter what our experience with our earthly dad has been, we have a Father who is good and can be trusted.
"Yet, O Lord, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand." Isaiah 64:8 "As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him." Psalm 103:13 "My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline and do not resent his rebuke, because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in." Proverbs 3:11–12 "Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?" Matthew 6:26 "Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!" Matthew 7:9–11"For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.' The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children." Romans 8:15–16
I don't know what kind of relationship you have with your dad. I don't know if Father's Day is a happy occasion where you express your gratitude to him or a painful reminder of the ways he has fallen short. But I do know that God is your Father and His Word confirms that He is a wonderful Dad.
Why not write out a note of thanks to Him, just like you may have done for your earthly dad? Tell Him you appreciate all He has done for you. Be specific. What is it about your heavenly Father that you especially love?