“The Father” Knows Best
We celebrated Father’s Day at our house a little early last Sunday. Since then, I’ve found myself thinking about my relationship with my Father in Heaven and comparing it to the relationship with the one that he sent to me nearly 30 years ago to fill the incredible void of never knowing my biological father.
Barry was my minister first and as the years passed, he, along with his family became my family. I’ve had the blessing and privilege of sharing joys, sorrows, vacations, holidays, and everyday life with this precious family. The memories are abundant.
One of my earliest memories is when Barry and his wife, Susan (truly an angel on earth), decided they wanted to take me shopping. I had an upcoming vacation and Barry determined this called for a new wardrobe. He and Susan packed me in the car and off we went. Quite a few hours later, I had a new wardrobe and the most overwhelming feeling of being genuinely loved by two very special people. For days, every time I thought about it, I teared up.
If you can, picture the scene in the movie Pretty Woman where Richard Gere has all of the sales associates running around and catering to Julia Roberts’ every whim…that’s the scene if you go shopping with Barry. He sees to it that you feel special and that everyone in the store knows you are special. It can be a little embarrassing at first, but suddenly you find yourself embracing the moment! If you are a female in Barry’s family, it is highly likely that you have experienced a shopping extravaganza such as this. If not, wait for it…it’s coming! He’s at his best, when he’s making others happy.
I had a personal relationship with the Lord when I first met Barry and Susan, but through our conversations and through his ministry Barry taught and stressed to all, particularly on Father’s Day, that we have a Father in Heaven that loves us more than any earthly father ever could. Barry can look at me or hear my voice, and with great pride tell me what kind of day I am having. He has a strange innate ability to know just the right time to call as well. He often tells me what’s bothering me, even before I know it’s bothering me! When I think about this and compare it to how our Father in Heaven knows us even more intimately than this, I feel nothing but hope for a world that seems so broken.
Barry and Susan have always referred to their home as “my home”. Through the years I’ve heard Barry say many times, “Hunnee, you can always come home”. I suppose we all need to go home at times. Our Father in Heaven is no different. He knows we are prone to wander, but through scripture we know he’s always patiently waiting and at times watching from afar for our return home. Not only does our Father in Heaven know the very number of hairs on our head, but he keeps track of our sorrows, he collects our tears in a bottle, and he records each one. We receive HIS call at the perfect time and HE has the ability to change our circumstances in the twinkling of an eye.
As individuals and as a society we seem to be wandering in the wilderness. With the events and unrest, we’ve witnessed the last few weeks, I’ve found myself praying for a leader to emerge that can bring us together. One that can help us erase our sorrows, and one that can help us move forward forgiving and loving each other with the unconditional love that mirrors the love and forgiveness we have been given by our Father in Heaven. I wonder at times if a leader like this really exists here on earth? I do know scripture tells us that as it pertains to each of us, we should live peaceably with all.
My prayer for this Father’s Day is, as we celebrate our biological fathers and/or the ones HE has sent to be our earthly example of our Father’s love, we will all take the time to truly go home for a bit and rest in the arms of our Father in Heaven. He’s there waiting for us, not to condemn us, but perhaps to convict us to examine ourselves and determine what we can do as it pertains to each of us individually to make a difference right where we find ourselves planted. Whether the earthly leader I wish for emerges among us or not, I know without a doubt our Father in Heaven knows best and has the power to reset our hearts and minds to give us each the ability to forgive one another and genuinely love one another as HE first loved us.
Happy Father’s Day!