I found myself unable to sleep tonight. I’ve been awake for about an hour and thinking about Father’s Day. Last night I went out with a friend who is having her first Father’s day since the death of her husband. Her ten year old son was quite concerned how they would spend the day and they are spending it surrounded by friends and family both male and female who love them and will do their best to fill in the gaps left by the loss of a dad.
My husband was meeting with a group of men yesterday that get together mostly to pray and support each other. He said that as they talked about their lives the theme of father issues kept coming up. Either issues as they father their own children or issues with their fathers. We all know the importance of a father in a child’s life and the persistent issues that come from not having a positive male role model.
I’m thankful for my husband and the great father he has been to our children. For a man who lost his father when he was five years old and grew up with a mom and a sister being a dad is something he has taken quite seriously. He has been a good dad and more importantly a praying dad.
Our kids are now young adults, making their own choices and finding their own way. It’s difficult to step back as parents when you know that those choices are not the best ones for them. It keeps this mom sleepless on Father’s Day.
And ultimately on this Father’s Day, I am reminded that no matter what is going on I can rest in this: Every generous act of giving and every perfect gift is from above and comes down from the Father who made the heavenly lights, in whom there is no inconsistency or shifting shadow.
All of us have the opportunity to experience the love of a Father.
