June 16, 2019 - INSCRIPTIONS FROM THE HEART
“See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God…” (ESV, 1 John 3:1a)
“Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” (ESV, Ephesians 6:4)
“Daaaaaad…” I can hear my daughter saying, her voice complete with tones of frustrated acceptance. When my children were born, (admittedly) I did not immediately connect. Why? At that young age I really don’t bring much to the table, there is a much deeper maternal connection which is completely natural after being so closely connected for nine months. For me, it wasn’t until we could communicate that I really developed that deep bond. Today, we develop that bond with one-on-one dates, daily check-ins on the triumphs and defeats of primary school, and a special language. What is that language? Sometimes it’s visual, like when mom is talking about something serious and we (dads) have a way of completely undermining her through ill-timed facial expressions. Sometimes it’s verbal, like when I told them I wouldn’t buy them anything with Velcro because it’s a rip-off. But other times, (and this is my favorite) when they are fast asleep, I lie down beside them and whisper this in their ear, “I love you. And always remember that God loves you even more!”
My children and I share a special bond that goes beyond biological parenting. On one hand I have the opportunity to raise them up physically, they look like me and pick up on ALL the things I do (good and needs improvement), but on the other hand there is a more challenging and rewarding part of teaching them. As parents, we all make mistakes, and honestly the best teaching only occurs after lessons are learned. As a father, there will be times when my children need me, like me, and can’t stand me, but the one lesson I intend to teach them is that no matter how many times I screw up (as a parent, a man, and even a child), I have a heavenly Father who loves me, and calls me His child and He’s their father too. This Father is perfect, will never be too busy for them, loves them because of who they are (to Him) not because of what they do (for or against Him), will always listen to them and can relate to everything they’re going through, and only gives good gifts even if we don’t know how to use them. It’s our heavenly Father that I try to be like, and it’s our heavenly Father I commit to telling everyone about (starting with my children). He even tells good jokes, check out the story of the greatest comedian in the Bible – Samson, he brought the house down.
Happy Father's Day!
Pastor Tonyvic Tira