James 1:27
Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the
Father, is this: to visit orphans
and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
Matthew 7:12
So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also
to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
Today is Father’s Day.
Growing up without a dad, Father’s Day never carried a whole lot of
meaning for me. The first time
that it did was in 2009 – my first year as one of the honorees. And yes – for probably the first time
in my life, Father’s Day was a special day. In fact, it became one of the most joyous days of the year
for me – not so much because it’s a day in which my family celebrates me (though
I will confess that I enjoy being the recipient of doting as much as the next
guy). Instead, the greatest joy
came in the reminder that I have the incredible privilege of being the father
to my incredible little girl.
There’s no question that our daughter has lived up to and even exceeded
the meaning of her name – “My father’s joy whom Jehovah has graciously
given.” She is absolutely one of
the greatest sources of joy in her father’s life and is without a doubt a most
gracious gift from our Father in Heaven.
I truly enjoy celebrating the gift of being her father even more than I
enjoy being the honoree of the celebrations.
As I sat in church this morning, I experienced an added
thankfulness that I don’t think I’ve ever felt before. Today, I found myself giving thanks not
only for my incredible daughter (who is always a source of great joy), and not
only for my Father in Heaven (who I’ve always known is the most important
presence in my life and more important than my earthly father ever would have
been), but also for a man who over the past year has stood in the gap in my
life. This is a man who has served
as a mentor and spiritual leader, for me as well as for my wife. He’s also been a “Papa” to my daughter. Wow – that one is particularly
awesome! As most any parent likely
knows, it’s one thing to go without for yourself. It’s an entirely different thing to see your child have to
go without. Standing in the gap
for me is an incredible blessing.
Doing so for my wife is an even greater gift to me. Doing so for my daughter – being
something for her that I am unable to be, and something I am unable to provide
– is a blessing beyond words. This
man is someone who has walked beside my family through some very rough terrain
over the past year. This is a man
who has heard me grumble, who has seen me cry, who has celebrated my greatest
joys with me, and encouraged me through some of my darkest days. All the while, he has loved me and my
family. All the while he has been
a “Papa” to us all. Today, I was
moved to tears at the opportunity to publicly thank him for all he’s done. What an incredible gift he is in my
life.
As I sat there with God preparing my heart to encourage this
man with a few words of thanks, He took my thoughts a little further. I was thinking how thankful I am to
have such a Godly man stand in the gap in my life - how it’s made such a
positive difference for me and for my family, how I love and appreciate him so
much. And then God, in a virtually
audible voice asked me, “Are you willing to give as you have received?” Wow! Am I willing to give as I have received? In this
day and age when so many are without fathers of any kind, never mind Godly
fathers who point their children to the greatest Father of them all, am I
willing to stand in the gap as Papa has done for me? Am I willing to enter into intentional relationships with
the generations behind me to fill in any gaping holes? Am I willing to hear them grumble? Am I willing to see them cry? Will I celebrate their greatest joys
and encourage them through some of their darkest days? And will I show the love of the Father
throughout it all? Will I go even
further and rally the Godly men I know to stand up and do the same? I realize we’re all busy. I realize that intentionality takes
time, effort, energy and so much more.
But, I also realize from my own firsthand experience that the results
can’t be bought, can’t be manufactured, and can’t be counterfeited. These types of results will only come
when Godly men will stand up and accept the roles that God is calling each one
of us to play in the lives of the next generations. It’s not always going to be easy, it’s virtually never going
to be convenient. But, it is good
and right and fitting for us to do for others as we would have done for
us. And not only is it fitting,
but it’s a privilege to be used of God in this way. If any of you men have been the recipient of this type of
relationship, you know what a difference it can make. Won’t you do the same for someone else and be the hands,
feet and mouth of our Father? Won’t
you take the opportunity to stand in the gap and be the one who points the next
generations to the greatest Father of them all? I truly believe this to be part of the calling that God has
laid on each one of our lives. I’m
so thankful to be the recipient of such a relationship and am going to do my
best to rise up and stand in the gap for others. I invite each of you to join me and to do the same as
servants of our steadfast God.
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