Who's Your Daddy?

When I was growing up, we didn't have any daddy-daughter dances, or even daddy-daughter date nights. My dad just let me know that he loved me everyday. He let all of us know how proud he was when we did well in school, or our jobs, and loved that we had lots of good friends. He now compliments all of us on being good spouses and parents. He encouraged us to be ourselves, and to use our brains in life. He is now retired, but he worked hard for his family. My dad seemed to be at work ALL day. Actually, it was the commute that took so long. Although my dad worked about 45 miles away from our house, his drive took about 1.5 hours each way. He had to be at work by 6:30 AM, and came home around 5:30 PM. We never saw him in the mornings while we were getting ready for school, but he looked in on us while we were still asleep.

Last night, we had a Family Movie Night at the church. We watched a movie that starred a young teenager who grew up without knowing her parents. Her grandmother had raised her all of her life. At one point in the movie, an influential adult in the woman's life told her that she had a Father that loved her. That Father sent His only Son to die for her sins, and to be her Savior. Even if she did not know her own father, she could still know here Heavenly Father. This morning, I read an article about a man in the prison system whose own father walked out on his family. His father-figures were from the streets. And, by following the Code of the Streets, he did things that landed him in jail and prison for several years.

I know that many people did not grow up with a good father (including my own dad). My dad was not perfect, but the Father is. God, the Father, created us all. He desires a relationship with each of us. He sent Jesus Christ, His Son, to be the final sacrifice for the forgiveness of our sins. Yet, we have to confess who Jesus is, and to accept His sacrifice, to be with the Father for eternity. No matter who our earthly father is, we still need to know that we have a Heavenly Father that loves us and wants to be with each of us. We must make the choice, though, to follow.

John 14:5-7 (New International Version)

5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”