The anticipation of Father’s Day brings with it thoughts of cookouts, new grills, new tools, and beer. It’s a time where we celebrate the fathers in our lives. For many, this includes dads, grandfathers, husbands, uncles, and brothers. For others, this may include a father-figure who had a large impact on their life.
We celebrate the men who have been there for us in our childhood and in seasons of our lives where we are experiencing a need for growth. These are the men who teach us life-long lessons and encourage us through the difficult times.
A Lesson in Love
There is a moment from my childhood that I remember very clearly. I had gotten in trouble and was waiting in my room. It’s possible that I had been spanked as well, but that’s not clear in my memory. Eventually my dad came in. He sat quietly beside me on my bed with tears in his eyes, and told me that he didn’t enjoy punishing me. He told me that he loved me and that he wanted what was best for me. He explained how the discipline that I received spurred from that love, and helped form me into the person that God was calling me to be.
A Lesson in Life
This experience was one of the greatest lessons in love that I have ever received. It’s not the only lesson in love that I’ve known, but it’s one that has stayed with me and challenged me in my own life as I’ve grown up and had kids of my own.
A Lesson in Faith
The lesson I learned from this experience also served as an earthly example of the love that we receive from our Heavenly Father. Bad things happen, we can’t always get our way in life, we have to live with the consequences of our actions. Just as in the case with my earthly father, this isn’t because our Heavenly Father doesn’t love us. Many times it’s what is needed to help form us into the person He created us to be.
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