Father’s Day is coming in the USA, which is a time when family members celebrate their dads, fathers, papas, granddads or father figures that have added to their family experience.
Different people have different feelings about Father’s Day. Some families have no fathers, many marriages have been split by divorce, some children have never known a dad, and others may have been deserted by their dad. But no matter what the human experience, good or bad, there is one Dad above all that is with everyone to always be celebrated—our common Father-God.
Jesus had a dear sense of his Father’s close presence when he uttered the words, “Abba Father,” during his agony in the garden of Gethsemane (Mark 14:36). Abba is an endearing term which could be translated as papa, or daddy. God as Father, was not a far-off authority figure for Jesus, an inaccessible ruler in a lofty place or an impersonal presence that felt ethereal, vague or abstract. Jesus’ Father was a very real, concrete, at-hand, within presence that spoke to him, supported him, supplied him, loved him and cared for him in the smallest of details. God was the greatest Daddy Jesus could ever have. And the same rule applies to each of us.
Our divine Dad is always with us. He never forsakes us. He never leaves us or forgets about us.
Our heavenly Dad is always watching out for us, guiding, guarding, protecting and leading us.
Our God-Dad is ever faithful, dependable, reliable and trustworthy.
Our Father is always one step ahead of us taking us down paths of progress, moving us in the direction we need to go and supporting us each step of the way.
God is the best Dad we could ever have. And His presence can take many different forms in our human experience, from a dad present in the home, to a neighbor who cares, to a supportive teacher, a mentor, or a simple and straightforward feeling of spiritual wholeness and completeness.
Every good quality our human dads express comes from their divine Dad, and it is healthy to express gratitude for it. And that’s what Father’s Day is about, taking a moment to appreciate the evidence of Fatherhood in our lives, whether it comes from a man in the house, a friend, neighbor, coach, or directly from God Himself. Daddy’s presence, as God’s presence, is all around, and as close as the thoughts you think.
Thank you Evan, for broadening my perception of true Fatherhood.
It makes me feel so safe when I realize “His arm encircles me, and mine, and all” Hymn 207
What a lovely picture you have chosen Evan, to depict the protection and care of a father in our life. The babe seems to be carefree, happy and cozy in the comforting arms of his dad. This reminds me of a lovely hymn…Everlasting arms of Love.
“Everlasting arms of Love
Are beneath, around above:
God it is who bears us on,
His the arm we lean upon
He our ever-present guide,
Faithful is, whatever betide;
Gladly then we journey on,
With His arm to lean upon.
From earth’s fears and vain alarms
Safe in His encircling arms,
He will keep us all the way,
God, our refuge, strength and stay..”
…and our divine loving father,, to whom each and every need of ours is always known.. and by whom it will be met,
Am so grateful to the most loving Father – God…Who is mine and my dad’s PA too..and the father of the whole universe. Glory be to God forever.
Thank you very much Evan, for this very lovely eye-opening SpiritView of true Fatherhood.
For me its eye-opening, because your sentence: “Every good quality our human dads express comes from their Divine Dad.” This is a healing thought for me, because I can now forgive my stepfather for something in the past. And I can see him in a more loving light, although he is not anymore here.
And, Evan I alsways love your explanation to bring us God very near: “God`s presence is all around, and as close as the thoughts we think.”
Thank you Nergish, I love that song, too.
Thanks for these wonderful thoughts!
Gosh, There is SO much to celebrate!
Beautifully said, Evan. Some of those ideas were so helpful when my dear daddy passed away many years ago. Knowing that my divine Daddy is always with me, guiding, directing, and loving me is such a comfort even today.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH for saharing this lovely Sipitview of the BEST FATHER EVER it’s make me feeling save because i don’t know my father but i know i had the Best own EVER who GUIDE ME and all his creation He is with us every where . for this i can mention this passage i read this morning `your WORD IS A LAMP FOR MY FEET AND A LIGHT OF MY PATH` every day is a gift and we can do gratitude every day. thank you for you all
Hello and thank you for sharing your light and insights. I m very new to CS but it speaks to me very much. Reading about it feels me withpeace i m trying to take with me into my day
What a tender loving post, Evan.
This is so beautiful Evan. Thank you. Blessings to all today.
What a beautiful picture showing the tender hands of a loving father. Because my daughter was born at home a month early, my father assisted the doctor in her delivery. The C.S. nurse I had hired was on vacation. My father passed on in a C.S. nursing facility many years ago, and I was able to spend that last afternoon with him singing hymns to him. I have so many happy experiences we had together still fresh in my memories of him. Happy Father’s Day Even and all the fathers reading your blog.
Thank you, Evan! I am grateful that I had my earthly father for 24 years. He reflected God’s love in the most amazing way. I miss him very much, but am thankful for CS’s teaching that death is simply an illusion and that good can never be taken away. I appreciate this reminder of who are SOURCE of LOVE is. Thank you!
Thank you for this reminder of our Father Mother God’s ongoing love for us, and for all who reflect Fatherly and Motherly love. Happy Father’s day, and thank you all for the love and shepherding ideas shared through this blog. When I see the image of the tiny baby tenderly held by Fatherly hands, I am reminded of Mary Baker Eddy’s prayers for the little children and for the big children: ‘Father Mother God, loving me, guard me when I sleep, guide my little feet up to Thee” and “Father Mother Good, lovingly Thee I seek, patient, meek, in the way Thou hast, be it slow or fast, up to Thee.” Lovingly, Ruth, in Canada.
Thank you for this sweet post today. I’m going to forward it on to my children whose dad has passed on. I’ve always assured them that God is their only real parent—their Father-Mother—who is with them forever, guarding and guiding them. I’ve also assured them that their daddy is alive, loving them, and that they will see him again. Life is eternal! I’m grateful we have C.S.!
Beautiful!
This is a beautiful message, and I’m going to share it with my Facebook friends.
so good….
Dear Bernadette,
This special message is perfect for you, knowing your only true Father. Much love, Carm