It will be a certifiable miracle if I complete this post without shedding a few tears. After all, I am my father’s son. My father was a strong, hardworking provider but he was never hesitant to show emotion. You might even say he wore his heart on his sleeve. He was elected president of his union local because the workers all knew he was one of them and that he sincerely cared about their well-being. I saw tears on his cheeks when he would learn of someone’s troubles. I watched him sob bitterly when my mother died. My father taught me many things that have been beneficial on life’s journey, but the most important thing he taught me was that a strong man can have a tender heart. Sometimes I look down at my hands and see my father’s hands instead. Sometimes, when the lighting is just right, I even see him staring back at me in the mirror.
You cannot live more than seven decades without some regrets. One of my biggest regrets has been the fact that after I left home at 18 I became so wrapped up in my life as a member of the U.S. Air Force, fiancee and then husband that I failed to keep my father as close as I should have. He and I attended the same church in St. Louis when I returned to civilian life. He knew that I loved him and appreciated everything he did for me and I knew he was proud of me and loved me. He retired and moved back to Indiana. Then Carol and I moved to Iowa and on to the Chicago area. So miles and obligations kept us separated from each other during most of his retirement. I like to think if we had been able to have children it would have been a priority for me that they would know their grandfather, but that didn’t happen.
When I look around at all those who grew up or are growing up without a father in their home or those with an abusive father, I realize how truly blessed I have been. I not only had a loving earthly father in my life, but from the age of eleven I also have had a heavenly Father too, who has been with me each step of the way. I continue to strive to be more like Him. I pray that others around me will look at me and get a glimpse of my heavenly Father or at least see a “family resemblance”.
Jesus taught us to pray to our heavenly Father. (Matthew 6:9) “Abba” is the Hebrew word for father. Paul wrote in Romans 8:15 and again in Galatians 4:6 that God has adopted us as His children so that we may call Him Abba, Father. I am so thankful that those who have not known a loving earthly father can still receive the blessing of knowing God as their Father. He is a true role model for His sons and an example to each of His daughters of what she should be looking for in a husband and father of her children. There is such a need today for godly men to step up and take their place as caring, loving fathers. Our families, churches, society and world need them.