heavenly-Fathers-Day

Father’s Day brings joy for many as they package gifts of appreciation, make stacks of pancakes or plan a day of fun together as a family. For others it brings melancholy for reasons far too varied for me to list.

For me as a single mom, I do have my own melancholy of varying degrees…and oddly one of the most difficult things about Father’s Day is purchasing the card.

It is agonizing standing there looking at all the “Dad! You’re the greatest!” cards, knowing that they simply don’t apply. My children don’t choose them. That makes me sad and angry. I want my children’s dad to be their hero.

For me, I will be the parent celebrating Father’s Day with my children.  At first, I thought it was weird. Now I realize, oddly enough, it’s appropriate. I’ve been Mom and Dad for years now. So I am gonna put on my big girl pants (my most masculine) and take my kids on an adventure.

There’s gotta be a good word for me—a mom being Dad for Father’s Day. My first thought was to combine “mom” and “dad,” but that gave me mad. Appropriate, but not positive. Dom and Mod were just silly, and the other one was kind of bad so I won’t share it.

Forget cute wordplay. Just be me and figure out a fun and encouraging day.

What I want to communicate to my children about Father’s Day isn’t about their earthly father, but all about their heavenly Father. I’ve tried to encourage my children to honor their dad—we’ve been diligent in that regard. It’s not easy to keep from speaking unkind words, but we are trusting in God’s strength to persevere in this and many other things.

Thankfully, our heavenly Father very much deserves honor and respect. These past few years, I’ve found my faith strengthened even while I’ve struggled with the sinfulness of my heart and mind. God continually reveals His faithfulness as my own faithlessness is ever before me.

Recently, I had someone share their frustration with some doctrinal issues. At first, I thought, “Change the subject fast!” Then I realized that God had prepared me for this. So I shared that I’ve learned it isn’t about what I know apart from knowing God. I don’t need to understand or be able to explain the book of Revelation, Reformed or Armenian theology, or the sinful behavior of another person.

I do need to know my Father’s character, my Savior’s love, and my Holy Spirit’s strengthening.

When I know my heavenly Father, I know I can trust Him with all the difficulties, questions, and unknowns.

So this Father’s Day, I’m going to remind my children who their heavenly Father is. I’m going to share who I know Him to be—His love, His faithfulness, His character. I’m going to tell them about this Father who will never leave them nor forsake them, who has chosen them as His precious children, and who will love them unconditionally.

I read this wonderful passage by Charles Spurgeon recently. “There is love, immortal and unchanging love, in heaven toward you, which will never grow cold. You will be helped. God would sooner cease to be than cease to be faithful. Be of good courage, for today He will strengthen your heart.”

This Father’s Day, I pray that we all remember that the “coolest dad in the world” is truly our heavenly Father. I wish there was a “God—Best Dad Ever” card big enough for all of us to sign!