Dear Dad
It’s a wonderful time of year when the school year comes to an end. Classrooms are having parties or planning them, and graduation banners are displayed proudly outside of neighborhoods.
It is during these times where “father” issues may surface. Some children have earthly fathers, some do not. Some have earthly fathers that have not upheld their duty to provide and protect. Others, not only didn’t uphold their duty to provide and protect, but have caused harm beyond words to their own children. Some children had the most amazing earthly father who was brought home to Heaven before they were done asking him all the questions they wanted to ask him. I could go on and on regarding possible father issues here, but I want to discuss the Perfect Man, the Son of God, and our Heavenly Father. I want to issue a decree across the land that God is a Heavenly Father.
I first got a hold of this concept when I was 14-years-old. My own earthly father was gone and he died before I ever knew him. I had many mean step-fathers, and I had no idea what my new friend, Crystal Taylor, meant when she said, “Do you want to be saved?” Immediately I leaned forward and whispered, “From what?!” I thought something was about to “go down” from which we would need to escape.
Coming from an environment of abuse and a home that wasn’t necessarily safe to say the least, I expected fighting, yelling, or the police to barge through the door. So, when she said, “Do you want to be saved?” I was curious and confused. She started talking about God and His son. I thought she was speaking in a different language. All of a sudden it hit me, “Oh, so Easter isn’t about a bunny, Christmas isn’t about a man in a red suit, and when Linus on The Charlie Brown Christmas Special says,
‘Unto you a child is born, unto us a son is given…and he shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the mighty God, The everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.’ (Isaiah 9)
he is talking about Jesus!
Things started making sense to me. But then she got to the part about telling me how God is a HEAVENLY FATHER! I was ready to sign up. Then, she told me that all I had to do was say a prayer to receive him as my savior. So, I’ve been calling my Heavenly Father - my “Dear Dad” ever since. As a result, my eyes have been opened to the father voids all around me. I see grown adults who struggle with father issues. I see young children suffer due to father issues. It breaks my heart, but I want to say: LET US LOOK TO OUR HEAVENLY FATHER and cry out “Abba Father” asking him to fill the voids, to heal the hurts and to put aloe on the scars. Let us ask our Father to whisper in our hearts how much He loves us, provides for us, and has a future for us. And most importantly let us hear Him when He does. For our Heavenly Father is always there - loving us - and wanting what is best for us. He is always there, waiting on us to call out to him - so that he can help us and bless us with what we’ve entrusted to him - through child-like faith. And, let us remind the children that they have a Heavenly Father who is the Perfect man - and whatever their earthly father has done, is doing, or never did - or if their earthly father never was a part of their life (such as mine), let us remind them that God will not let them down, that He always provides, and that He is always on their side.
If we can spread this message of hope and Truth to the children - just think how strong, courageous, confident in Christ, and steadfast they will be amid the storms of this life. When we learn to stop waiting and looking to “man” but rather look to the Perfect Man, then and only then, can young boys become strong men for the Kingdom of God. And then and only then, can young girls begin to understand that they have a Prince of Peace who always has their best interest at heart.
We have a Heavenly Father! I just wanted to write you all about my Dear Dad. He is an awesome Dad and He loves me, and He loves you, and we all have access to Him through His Son.
Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me. Psalm 27:10.
He defends the cause of the fatherless. Deuteronomy 10:18.
As a mother comforts her child, so I will comfort you. Isaiah 66:13.
Which of you fathers if your son asks for a fish will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in Heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?” Luke 11:11-13
Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘it is mine to avenge. I will repay,’ says the Lord. Romans 12:17
We will all endure some kind of pain on this earth. Some of that pain will be caused by father issues. This is why I want to issue a decree and spread it all across the land (No, I’m not the Queen of a forgotten Fairy Tale, but it is fun to talk that way). And so I say, as a daughter of the Most-High King…
“and he shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the mighty God, The everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace’ (Isaiah 9).
Kristina Seymour loves to encourage and equip women through the Word and through community. She is the author of The Warrior Mom Handbook, The Warrior Mom Leadership Manual, and The Warrior Wife Handbook; they are available at Amazon.com. Kristina's Bible studies are for women who desire to live by faith in the midst of their everyday lives. She has learned that women can't survive on caffeine and animal crackers alone; women in the Word and in community are united and able to stand firm. To learn more about Kristina, please visit her website, https://kristinaseymour.com/. God loves to share His story of love and grace through us all, and Kristina believes that everyone has a story to tell.
Kristina Seymour loves to encourage and equip women through the Word and through community. She is the author of The Warrior Mom Handbook, The Warrior Mom Leadership Manual, and The Warrior Wife Handbook; they are available at Amazon.com. Kristina's Bible studies are for women who desire to live by faith in the midst of their everyday lives. She has learned that women can't survive on caffeine and animal crackers alone; women in the Word and in community are united and able to stand firm. To learn more about Kristina, please visit her website, https://kristinaseymour.com/. God loves to share His story of love and grace through us all, and Kristina believes that everyone has a story to tell.
Originally published Tuesday, 03 September 2024.
SHARE
