Abba. Father. God
And because you Gentiles have become his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, and now you can call God your dear Father. -- Galatians 4:6
Abba. Yahweh. Father God. Heavenly Father. There are many, many things we can call God. We are His children. He is our Father. Our Creator. And He loves us unconditionally and without reservation.
Today is a day set aside by man to celebrate fathers. For some it is a time of joy and thanksgiving. Others ache for what they had but now have lost. And some hunger for what they never had, either because their father was absent or because he didn’t love and cherish them the way a father should.
The syrupy cards in the stores are all about those fathers of our fantasies. Even the best of fathers fall down on the job. It’s part of being human. We remember the good moments, the kind instances, the cheering sounds from someone clearly in our corner. If that was our experience.
But sometimes it isn’t. Some people remember a father who was drunk most of the time. Others close their eyes and feel the punches and slaps of out of control fury. And some still bear the emotional scars of constant criticism and condemnation. Because not everyone has a fairytale father.
Except we do. His name is God. So even those who were never enough, who suffered in pain, who were embarrassed and ashamed, have a Father in heaven who loves them unconditionally. God never fails us or abandons us in our pain. We are always good enough in His eyes, no matter how many times we fail or disappoint Him.
Abba. Father. This day I thank you for being the God who is beyond anything we can ever imagine. Thank you for showing compassion and strength, no matter what my circumstances might be. Thank for your direction and your Word. Thank you for shelter in the storm. And thank you most of all for loving me as I am, where I am. Amen.
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