Thanks, Dads

(1 Thessalonians 2:9–12)  For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. You are witnesses, and God also, how holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you believers. For you know how, like a father with his children, we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.

Our God is, as Jesus taught us, "our heavenly Father.” And so that we might begin to understand the glory of that privilege, God has given us earthly fathers to enrich our apprehension of what it means to be the sons and daughters of the Creator of the universe. Although earthly fathers imperfectly bear the likeness of our heavenly Father, when they do so faithfully, they do it with profound effect.

-       Fathers bear the image of their Creator when they beget something that bears resemblance to them and yet is completely unique and separate from them.

-       Fathers bear the image of their Creator when they conceive children knowing in advance that they will be difficult, selfish, ungrateful and who at times will defy their fatherly authority and ignore their fatherly wisdom.

-       Fathers bear the image of their Creator when they conceive children, not for what the children can do for them, but rather as objects of their intense love and unflagging devotion; little people upon whom to lavish affection, encouragement, provision and praise.

-       Fathers bear the image of their Creator when they lovingly perform a thousand selfless deeds for their children accompanied by a thousand gifts of provision and are happily content to have one or two acknowledged and praised.

-       Fathers bear the image of their Creator when they wrestle with their children and pretend to be overpowered by their children’s vastly inferior strength and agility.

-       Fathers bear the image of their Creator when they sagely allow their children to take on tasks too big for them; to fail, and to suffer loss, pain, frustration and humiliation confident of the character that these afflictions will almost surely produce.

-       Fathers bear the image of their Creator when they teach, and then re-teach, and then re-re-teach the same lessons over and over again, patiently committed to teach the lessons as many times as it takes for the wisdom to take root in the hearts of their children.

-       Fathers bear the image of their Creator when they listen patiently to their children tell them things they already know; listen empathetically as their children vent their frustrations, cry their fears, and listen attentively as their children share the minutia of their tiny little lives.

-       Fathers bear the image of their Creator when they exercise their strength to defend, protect, guard and rescue their children from overwhelming dangers, foes and catastrophes.

-       Fathers bear the image of their Creator when they stand tip-toe, patiently scanning the horizon for the return of wayward, thankless and rebellious sons and daughters, all the while remaining ever-ready to receive, forgive and bless them.

-       Fathers bear the image of their Creator when they, just like the Lord God, are perfectly easy to please, and forever impossible to satisfy. Ever eager to acknowledge and praise the smallest of their children’s victories and accomplishments, and ever wanting for them more than they are able to ask or imagine.

And so, dads, we sons and daughters thank you from the very bottom of our hearts, not merely for your myriad acts of love and service. But for the countless ways that you displayed and revealed to us the big-hearted goodness and never-ending love of our Creator God. To Him be all glory and praise!