Happy Father’s Day! It’s raining here in Minnesota and our church picnic has been moved inside for later. As I sat down and started writing this morning, considering people reading this in different places, I wondered what you might be thinking and feeling.
Some people have a really hard time thinking of God as their heavenly “Father”, because their experience of a father has been less than heavenly. The fathers in their lives have been absent or abusive, or untrustworthy, or controlling. So to call God “father” is not helpful. I get that. You may be more comfortable with an image of God as a mother, or a shepherd or a place of refuge. Great, go for it.
I understand too, that on Father’s Day there may be tangled hot mess of regret, anger, and confusion. About Dads and God and longing to feel loved in ways you haven’t experienced, and trying to forgive hurts you don’t deserve.
There are many dad’s who don’t live into the name well. Just like there are Christians who are hypocritical and mean-spirited and don’t live into the name well.
But not all dads disappoint all the time. I’ve been privileged to know many extraordinary dads throughout my family. My own dad, my grandfather, my brothers, and my husband… None of them perfect, but all of them remarkable men who each have modeled different godly characteristics that have enriched my understanding of God. Continue reading
