There are all
kinds of dads. I know yours is probably great, gone, or a groaner. You love him
or you would like to love him. Either way, he’s still dad.
Great!
Many dads are the best ever! They play
catch in the yard and show up at
every game. When there’s a problem, they sit and talk it out with patience and
love. Great dads also never let you get by with anything. He helps you grow in
character by giving you the chance to be responsible: to yourself, your family
and the community. If you pick flowers from a neighbor’s yard, you take them back.
If you drive through that yard many years later, Dad’s chest swells with pride
as you replant the turf. What a Great dad!
Gone!
Some dads are gone. They are in the military and are deployed for long
periods of time. In Escape from the
Belfry, Adam’s dad never came home
after the war and Adam felt humiliated. Other dads have work that takes them
out of town a lot and they aren’t there for your ball game or special program.
Some dads are no longer in the house due to separation or divorce. You miss him
and may even blame him for his absence. He isn’t gone because of you. The
problems are between the adults – your parents. You will always have a dad.
Dads and kids don’t get a divorce.
Groaner!
Some dads are silly. Between you and me, they can be embarrassing
sometimes. They love to tell jokes that aren’t funny or give away secrets you
wish had not been revealed. A few dads swear at people and become angry over
the tiniest little thing. They make a fool of themselves and you. Just step a
few feet away, enjoy the view from your corner of the world and let him do his
kaboody dance, over there, by himself. His anger isn’t about you. It’s about
him.
There is another
dad, ABBA—
Daddy, Father God, who loves you more than life itself. Find a man of God: a
pastor, an uncle, or a mentor who can help you grow in the Lord. You will have
a dad who is the greatest, never gone, and not a groaner. He will never embarrass
you. He will only make fools of those who don’t want to know him. Let us pray:
“Father, Abba, I
come to you today to invite you into my life completely. Father’s Day and the
days that follow, will always be a reminder of the new father I have claimed because
you claimed me first. Forgive me for being mad at my dad. Flood his heart with your
love so that only you shine forth. May the best of all you have come to my dad.
Thank you for calling me your child. In the name of Jesus, your son, I pray.
Amen”
Doris
"God gives us
stories that testify to His love. Let me tell you mine."
Copyright 2013 Doris Gaines Rapp
Copyright 2013 Doris Gaines Rapp
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