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Father Playing with Daughter

Source: Steve Mason / Getty

Growing up I was jealous of a dear friend of mine. She was pretty, intelligent and rich by my youthful estimation. But what she had that I desperately wanted was a dad. Her father adored her, treated her like a princess. Whatever she needed he gladly provided. Whatever she wanted she just had to ask or pout long enough. It seemed she’d melt his heart every time. Yes, I was jealous.

Only once I witnessed him scold her. And it probably hurt him more than it hurt her. But even that scolding was done because my friend’s dad loved his daughter. Years later, I saw how this human father’s love so reflects the love of Father God. And people like me who grew up without a father so appreciate this Godly love. 1 John 3:1 says, “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God. And that is what we are.”

It’s the love of God that shielded me from creating ill-feelings towards my own biological father. I met him for the first time when I was 30 years old.

Even as an adult, the little girl within still yearned to sit on his lap, still felt deprived of a daddy’s love. Those childish desires wounded my heart the day I saw my father playing with his last child, a baby sister I also met for the first time. The flood of jealousy I felt for my dear friend came rushing back.  It’s a good thing “Abba” Father was there again to comfort me with healing words. My life has been a witness to the truth of Psalms 58:5 that God is, “A father to the fatherless.”

Almost as far back as I can remember I could sense God nearby. He was the one I turned to for conversation, for counsel even as a teenager.  I remember sitting in my empty hometown church one day just relishing the quiet silence and the sweet awareness of God.

He was the only Father I could truly count on. My mother used to say she was both mother and father to her children. But with all her unselfish, sacrificial love, even she couldn’t fill the void left by my absent earthly dad. Only an ever-present God could do that. I can rest assured that He’ll never leave, forsake or abandon me. God has proven unequivocally that truly He is the Father I can always count on.

Scripture of the Day: “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.: – 1 John 3:1

article courtesy of TheStreamingFaith.com

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