I too was also blessed with an amazing step-father who loves me as his own. Who has spent beyond his share of money, time, blood, sweat, and tears on me over the years trying to get my butt on the right path, whom I know, because of his deep love for me, would do it all over again in a heart beat.
My husband, who when we married, became an instant father to my then five year old. He was in her life as a father figure from the time she turned two, and truly is the only father she remembers as her own loving father passed away when she was a tiny baby. God has surely blessed me in this area of fathers. This is not a statement I could have made earlier in my life, but I see clearly now that its so true....and it really doesn't stop there. This is what amazing fathers do.
I feel that fathers get the short end of the stick so often and it stirs something up in me that is not pretty when I see this happen. I am fully aware, as a mother myself, that we as mothers are the ones who carry the child for 9 months or longer because God created us with such a blessing, but this did not happen because of our own doing. We as mothers have an amazing sense and connection to our children because of this bond. I would not think to change that for anything as its a blessing from God. We may THINK they are truly OUR children, but we are only HALF of that equation. Dads truly are more than just sperm donors or child support check writers. I can hear some of you ladies out there grunting...calm yourself and breathe. I truly understand that there are the few who have dropped the ball of responsibility and are not "present" due to whatever circumstances. Though the same grunting could be said about some mothers out there, as well as the mothers who speak poorly about the fathers to their children, or who keep their children from their fathers using them as pawns simply for their own self-centeredness. This, however, is not the focus of my writing. Regardless of whatever your experience, Dads are a true gift from God and there is a reason God has placed on them such a responsibility...its not for nought. Their roles and the effect of them on our lives should be celebrated. All kids need their fathers, no different than we need our heavenly Father.
I remember when my daughter was a tiny toddler. It, at that point was just she and I for awhile since her father, my husband, had passed away when she was just 8 months old. I remember when I started dating my husband now and then allowed my daughter and he to finally begin to bond. I remember watching her blossom like a flower that had not had adequate sunlight or watering now begin to bloom, thrive and grow in a way that was mind blowing. I was not aware she was lacking ANYTHING as I was fully taking care of her and loving her to the best of my ability, but now....NOW there was a man in her life. Not just any man, but a STRONG Godly man. It wasn't that I had done anything wrong in my raising of her, but this man who she now knows, and has known for nearly 16 years, was the father figure her heart dearly needed. She has amazing grandfathers, but she needed the touch that only a father could give.
Ladies, sometimes I think we truly need to get over ourselves in the thinking that because WE gave birth to them, and WE went through the physical labor and pain, and WE nursed them, wipe their butts, give medicine, and wipe their snotty noses more than Dads' do, that we are MORE valuable than they....this is just simply not the case. ITS NOT A COMPETITION, nor was it ever intended to be. Its a partnership whether you are "together" or not...each one truly has a purpose that God created. Lets take a look at some great examples. Although none of these men were perfect and made mistakes in their lives....they were still great fathers:
Noah is an excellent father described in the Bible. He is famous for building an ark and believing in God when everyone around him called him crazy.
Noah didn't care that the world was against him. He had faith. He believed in God's word and he raised his children to believe the same.
When God's warning of a flood proved true, Noah saved his children from certain death and can be seen as the father of the new world, which flourished because he put in the work to build the ark and house two of each animal.
Today, fathers resemble Noah when they refuse to let what other people say bother them. True fathers love their children in whatever ways they know to love and they go above and beyond to protect their sons and daughters from anything threatening to harm them.
Abraham was constantly challenged by God and he constantly met those challenges head-on. When he and his wife Sarai were unable to conceive, God blessed the couple with their son Isaac.
God challenged Abraham again by ordering Isaac be sacrificed. Though Abraham's heart was broken, he knew to trust in the Lord and at the last moment his hand was stilled by God and Isaac's life was spared.
Abraham's difficult life is a reflection of difficult lives still lived today.
Many modern fathers meet several challenges and learn, through experience, how to trust God. Once that trust is developed, fathers pass that unyielding faith and trust to their children, who grow to love God as well.
Moses is famous of hearing and obeying the Word of God. He did several amazing things, including free the Hebrews from slavery in Egypt and returning from Mount Sinai with the Ten Commandments we all continue to live by today.
Moses serves as an example of overcoming obstacles that seem impossible to conquer. Today, fathers must overcome several difficulties to help their children and serve as a reliable messengers of God's Word for their children.
Fathers everywhere can turn to Moses for encouragement and faith.
King David's story, much like Moses', begins in childhood. Much like Moses, David encountered a series of trials and overcame each with the help of God.
Neither David nor the other fathers of the Bible were perfect but each asked forgiveness for their sins and lived on to spread God's Glory.
With God by his side, David defeated the giant Goliath, he survived slavery and near-death experiences and eventually grew to become one of Israel's greatest kings.
King David is an amazing example of a father figure who understands what it means to live through difficult times - as well as how to conquer them. Many fathers today would do well to learn from his examples.
Though Jesus takes center stage, it is important to remember Joseph, Jesus' earthly father, was partially responsible for raising the Christ child.
Joseph ensured Jesus received an education in carpentry, ate well, was not in danger and grew to love God, the Father.
Joseph was a righteous man and was chosen to help care for Jesus as an earthly guardian.
Without Joseph's care, Jesus may not have grown in a loving home and wanting for nothing.
Joseph is a wonderful father figure for Jesus and the several children he later fathered. Each was a follower of Christ and refused to allow his wife to be humiliated or disgraced.
Today, fathers can learn to be compassionate, loving and righteous.
The one thing each of these Biblical fathers have in common is their faith in God. Each of these men believed God would bless them and turned to God in times of tribulation. Modern fathers would do well to learn to do the same to then turn and teach their children to trust in God as well.
As I think personally of each on of these men of the Bible, I can easily look into my own life and see Godly men who are fathers, who are JUST LIKE THEM. Not perfect, but hearts running fast after Jesus. These men, have not only impacted their own children with their passionate fire for God, but they have affected mine in a way that allows me to blossom much like the description I gave earlier of my own daughter. I am so incredibly thankful for the role of Dads, and those who continuously work hard to learn to be the best they can.
If you have a man in your life who is a father, stop looking for all you think might be wrong with them, but encourage, support and build them up, and ALLOW them to be the father they were created to be, and by all means CELEBRATE them.
Happy Fathers Day to all those amazing Dads out there and thank you for all that you do!!
Happy Fathers Day to all those amazing Dads out there and thank you for all that you do!!
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