Father

Father.

What comes to mind when you hear, read or say that word? Having grown up without a father or dad until I was 15, I didn't really have any ideas about what having a father was. I know I wanted one. Everyone else had one and I always felt like the outsider looking in on a cozy scene. The only human adult males in my early childhood were my uncles. I have great memories of most of them but not so great memories of one particular one who I was around the most. If that was what having a father was, no thank you! For those of you with great dads, you probably can't relate.
I've been thinking about the prayers that Jesus prayed in the Bible. I have a craving to read His words to and about His Father, who He instructed us to call "our" Father. But if your only memories of a father are bad ones, that can be challenging to think of God as a "loving" "kind" "compassionate" father.
I think the only way to think of Him as our Father is to allow Him by His spirit to heal us and to allow Him to show us just what kind of Father He is through His word and by faith IN His word. Sometimes it comes down to blind trust. Following though we can't see and it doesn't make sense. Reaching out in the snow storm and finding the line that leads us to safety. It's scary but it's worthwhile. He, unlike our earthly fathers, will NEVER leave us, He always thinks kindly towards us. He's slow to anger. He forgives readily and repeatedly and never holds our nose to our past mistakes. He is compassionate. He never shames us. He loves us unconditionally and completely. I think His father heart is broken repeatedly as He watches us hurt and struggle under some of the men we call "father" or "dad". And He longs to show us just what a father is.
What comes to your mind when you hear the word "father". How do you see God as your father? What kind of memories are you giving your kids as their parent; father or mother?
For the record, my mom was as tough as a man and could beat anybody's dad up. So, I did have that fine example!

I posted this on Facebook on December 4th, 2013 at 8:20 in the morning. My dad was in the hospital and was coming home that day. He did come home, but not to our house. About 4 1/2  hours after I posted this my dad, Patrick died of a pulmonary embolism. It was unexpected and it took my breath away for a long time. I love that God put father hood so strongly on my mind the day I lost my earthly father.