What comes to your mind on Father’s day? I reflect on my own father and I have some good memories and some not good memories!
My most cherished memories center around sports and our shared faith in Jesus!
My dad accepted Christ at The church in the park about a year after I received Christ.
He later became a part of three different congregations that I served in as a pastor.
My father suffered with a disorder that kept him from really thriving as a Christian.
I was able to have a lot more sympathy for my dad after I realized how much he suffered from his illness.
He was stubborn and did not take medication for his problem.
I think it would have made life a lot better for him and the rest of his family!
I still am thankful for all he did for me. I also reflect on the fact that I am a father on this earth.
I have two children that are with the Lord, one child that is newly married and expecting his own son soon.
I also have a “lost” child that keeps me waiting on the proverbial porch like the father in Jesus’ parable.
The older I get the more aware I am of my own human strengths and weaknesses as a father.
I thank God that He is compassionate to us and seeks to embrace us with His love.
The parable of the Lost Son could also be called the parable of the Compassionate Father!
No matter what your own experience was like with your earthly father, we all have a
Heavenly Father that seeks to love us and pour out compassion on us. One final thing;
I also think of golf on Father’s day! My dad taught me to play the hardest game of all!
I owe a lot of my own personal success to him. The U.S. Open is always on Father’s day weekend and
I will think of my dad as I relish watching the best play for the national championship of golf.