The Gift of Our Heavenly Father
Is Father’s Day hard for you? If so, you’re not alone. Growing up, I have fond memories of spending time with my dad—staying up late playing video games, shopping at Kohl’s on Black Friday, and spending countless hours on Science Fair Projects just to earn a Superior rating. However, at 14, my relationship with my dad changed dramatically. Almost overnight, we went from best friends to feeling like enemies. After he was placed on disability due to chronic pain, I struggled to understand the mental battles he faced. Those happy memories began to fade, overshadowed by more painful and traumatic experiences. Can you relate?
Since getting married, moving out, and establishing healthy family boundaries, I’ve found a healthier space to begin healing my relationship with my dad. Still, Father’s Day is always difficult. Emotions often swell deep within me, and when they rise, things can get messy. I cry for what was, and for what will never be again.
This Father’s Day, I’m reminded of one profound and eternal truth: Even when we struggle with our earthly fathers, God is our Heavenly and Eternal Father. He will never change, falter, or abandon us, and nothing can take away our kinship to Him. Our earthly fathers are flawed human beings, just like us. While their behaviors may not always be justifiable, we can find it in our hearts to forgive the pain they caused.
Father’s Day can evoke many feelings. Some grieve for fathers who have passed, while others wonder what it would’ve been like to have a father who chose to stay. Some have physical fathers, but don’t know them at all, while others cling to partial memories they strive to hold onto forever.
No matter your situation, know that God is your personal Father, and no one can take that away from you. If you belong to Jesus and have a relationship with Him, 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 tells us He is our Comforter. We are His sons and daughters, (2 Corinthians 6:18) and our identity as children of the Most High God is eternal (Romans 8:19-22).
Question for Reflection:
Do you struggle with Father’s Day? Why? Take some time to process these emotions in a journal as a prayer to God. If you’re ready, try writing a letter to your earthly father to express everything you need to say. Then, write a Father’s Day letter to Christ, expressing gratitude for His unwavering love. Even if we didn’t receive the love we needed from our earthly fathers, we can rest assured that Christ’s love for us will never fail.
