Dear fellow Pastors and Brethren,
I want to greet all the fathers and father-figures, “Happy Father’s Day”!
You are a great blessing to us, for many reasons. The word “father” is defined in the dictionary as the male parent, protector, priest, or anyone who takes responsibility for fatherhood. Literally and figuratively this gives us a glimpse of what being a father means. He is regarded as the source of provision, strength, Godly leadership and love. His is not a part- time job, but a 24-7 deal. It is for these reasons that we cherish you in a special way on Father’s Day.
My dad died 20 years ago, but his influence and love carries on for me and my family. I have had a father who gave me the chance to experience many things—the things I learned, the love I felt, the esteem that I developed and so many others. I owe many things to my dad, like for who and where I am now. Despite the many difficult circumstances we faced, he led us through. He was not perfect, but his imperfection only highlighted his commitment to love us and serve us in the best way he could. All the things that he shared with us – his commitment, his industry, his vision, his sacrificial love and leadership – all these made our family journey special and great. I am sure that you too can reflect on a lot of good things about your Dads, regardless of their limitations. They are God’s gifts we cannot ignore. And this is an occasion for us children to show honor and care for them.
I also have been a father for 25 years now. What a sobering privilege and responsibility that we have received from our heavenly Father to grow in and model the Father’s love. The more I looked at the ways that God has helped me become one, the more I see it is grace upon grace that makes it possible. My having only one daughter does not make fathering less challenging. As I mature and she grows up, my roles change, but my role as a dad never minimizes.
And the assurance to all dads, grand dads, step dads, dads-to-be and daddy-figures is that we are not alone in this task. We thank God and look up to Him always to work in our lives, so that we can also join Him in shaping our children and our families to the kind of fellowship and communion that God wants us to enjoy.
Our confidence is that He cares for us. Whether our fathers are with us or not, for whatever reason, we have a great Father who loves us and is with us all the time. Psalms 68:5-6 says, “He is the Father to the fatherless, a defender of widows… He sets the lonely in families.”
He understands our feelings and our needs. In fact, He says in His word that if human parents naturally want to give good gifts to their children, how much more the Father who wants to give us the best, and more than our expectations.
Today and always this is something we want to say to our dads: We love and appreciate you! This is true more so for our Father in Heaven, the perfect loving Father of all.
Your servant in Christ, Ka Eugene
