What an incredible day to celebrate one of the most important roles God has released upon the earth, and that is the role of a father. Fatherhood can be a challenging and humbling experience. It’s the adventure of a lifetime, but the path may not always be straight. There are hilltops, valleys, curves, unexpected turns, and also quiet, long stretches.
It’s in those quiet, long stretches where life just seems to flow; we get moments of reflection about how powerfully important the role of a father is. Fathers give their kids permission to fly and commission them with the courage to do so.
We recently met a father at one of our centers. He came in unsure of what he wanted for the pregnancy; in fact, he was pretty sure they would not keep the baby. As he chatted about life, one consistent theme arose: he was afraid. He was afraid he would fail as a provider; he was afraid for the health of his partner; he was afraid of being a father, because his own father had failed him. The more he talked, and the more we listened, a truly broken tenderness came from him. There was an honest heart’s cry that came out that he did desire to be a father. He was just too afraid to say it. After our conversation and prayer, he found his voice and shared his heart. The couple who came in looking to terminate their pregnancy left desiring to be parents.
Men are good at putting on tough exteriors and not showing emotions, but honestly, most men have real broken places inside that they have never been permitted to share. They never got permission to fly and a commission of courage.
We are struck by an event in Jesus’ life. In Matthew 3:13-17, Jesus is being baptized in water by John the Baptist. The Savior of the world was on the scene. Immediately after coming out of the water, the Spirit of God comes upon Him, and the Heavenly Father says: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Jesus was given permission to fly and commissioned to complete the mission He was sent to do. The power of our Loving Father was on full display.
Fathers, you have a voice that can shape generations, commission courage, grow hearts, release wings, and build a sure foundation. May you always hear your Heavenly Father speak over you for the calling you have. Men, we are proud of all you do to be a father in this world. Happy Father’s Day!
