Leave It To Beaver and Father Knows Best were very popular family TV shows when I was growing up. Ward Cleaver {LITB} and Jim Anderson {FKB} were the hero-like, practically perfect Dads who always seemed to guide their children’s
lives with patience, understanding, kindness, and love. They made fatherhood look saintly! Both Dads demonstrated strong reasons to celebrate Father’s Day with gusto!

But, not all of us had a growing up experience with that perfect image to guide us. Many of us had Dads who worked hard trying to balance being a solid provider, a loving husband, a nurturing father. They were human…not perfect, but they were there for their families to the best of their ability, supporting their children, guiding them in growing up, enjoying them and their antics, disciplining when warranted, guiding their families in their faith growth. They were an example to be emulated. We were blessed and loved. Father’s Day was a deserved time of recognition and fun! In their faith development, their families could identify with God as a loving forgiving Father.

However, some of us had absent fathers, workaholic fathers, addicted fathers, violent fathers…fathers who were not likely to deserve a joy-filled celebration of Father’s Day. Our experiences with our fathers have an influence on how we relate to God as Our Father. Someone once told me that they hated their father because he was plain mean and beat their mother and the children. Certainly no authentic Father’s Day celebration took place in their house! This person had a very difficult time identifying with God as a loving father who extends His mercy to us. This individual saw God as a vindictive judge who found fault with her every mistake–certainly not one who would shower her with compassion and forgiveness. She struggled in her ability to worship and relate to God as a loving merciful Father.

We all have our stories–our life experiences–our relationships that have made a definite mark on our life! Sometimes
we have to look beyond familial relationships and find that person who accepted us as we are–who lifted us up when we fell, supported us when we struggled, who loved us even when we didn’t love ourselves, who believed the best about us even when we may not have deserved it. That person can be your link to God as Father. Once you have identified that “father figure” in your life, it will be easier to relate to God as your loving and merciful Father. God is our “good, good Father…perfect in all of [His] ways…that’s who He is” according to the lyrics by Chris Tomlin. [Youtube the song, Good Good Father.]

Whether our father is still with us or already with Jesus, whether he is our familial father or a father figure in our life,
enjoy celebrating Father’s Day this weekend with thankfulness in our hearts knowing that Our Heavenly Father has blessed us with the best “Dad”!

Happy Father’s Day to all of you Dads and thank you for giving an example of what a blessing real fathers are. And
Happy Father’s Day to you, Father God!

Have a blessed week, everyone! ~~Alvera Bell