We love because He first loved us. (1 John 4: 19)

I’ve never been a fan of Father’s Day as I didn’t really know my earthly father. My parents divorced when I was four, and my dad was not one to involve himself in the lives of his children. I accepted that a long time ago. 

Nevertheless, there were times when I wondered what it might have been like to have had an earthly father who wanted to know me. If he had been a dad like the one my brother is, heaven knows how my life might have been different. 

My brother is fully committed to being the best father he can be. His work schedule, private life, and the center of his thoughts consistently rest on my nephew and his well-being. I’m incredibly proud of him for that. 

According to Fatherhood.org, one in four American children grow up without a father. That amounts to 18.4 million absent fathers nationwide. 

Absence is one thing. Influence is another, and statistics don’t lie. Children with a fatherly presence tend to: 

• Get better grades
• Live in a higher economic environment
• Be less prone to obesity and teenage pregnancy
• Stay out of trouble leading to incarceration or delinquency
• Be two times more likely to stay in school
• Remain at a lower risk of alcohol and drug abuse

If earthly fathers provide this much good, how much more must our heavenly Father’s influence instill? For me, I have always had a close connection to my Savior. I talk to Him as if He is my best friend and stay connected to Him through His Word. I see and feel His presence all around me in everything I do. I’m consistently comforted with the knowledge that I am never alone. 

Although I don’t deserve them, my divine Dad daily provides me with heavenly gifts: 

• Good health
• A secure life
• The beauty of a scarlet-hued sunset
• A gentle breeze to caress my skin on a blisteringly hot day
• Magical encounters with hummingbirds, garden toads, and sweetly singing songbirds
• The majesty of the cresting and receding ocean 
• The magnificent symmetry of a flock of pelicans flying in formation into the wind or skirting just above the sea

I could go on and on. I see God in everything that surrounds me. All the things my senses touch and absorb have my Creator’s fingerprints on them, and I feel privileged to see His grandeur every day. 

But what of the love Jesus demonstrated for me on the cross? When was the last time I stopped to think of the magnitude of His sacrifice for me? John 15:13 reminds me, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” 

And I am so much more than just a friend to God. I am His daughter and heir. According to Romans 8:17, “Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory.” 

Just imagine. Before any of us was even a thought, let alone alive on this earth, Jesus died for sins that we had not yet committed. He did so out of deep, everlasting love for each of us so that we would not have to be separated from God in death. Nothing could be more significant; no love could be more all-encompassing than that. 

At the bottom of this blog, I’ve attached a beautiful, emotional video that fully encapsulates this love. The production was created by the Connect Church in Guntersville, Alabama. I accidentally discovered this composition while looking for the version of “Good, Good Father” that I wanted to include with this post.

The production features a touching, wordless skit of a woman who suffers abuse, rejection, and disappointment from men throughout her life – a woman like me. While listening to the beautiful lyrics of Chris Tomlin’s song as they overlayed the actions of this story, tears fell down my face. 

While the drama plays out, a man stands behind the woman – comforting, watching, and embracing her – ultimately taking her place as he is beaten, spat upon, and nailed to a cross in her stead. The woman eventually discovers Christ’s arms around her and begins singing to her Savior, her heavenly Father, as He dies for her. There can be no greater love in her life.

And so, today, on Father’s Day and beyond, may we all be reminded of the permeating presence and power of our divine Dad. His sacrifice should never be in vain, and it never will be if we remember that He loved us first. By His example, we must demonstrate that same love to the world around us. 

Watch the video and let it sink into your soul. Allow the love of your Heavenly Father to make a difference in your life. Feel His impact and serve Him wholeheartedly. We are not called to be perfect. We are called to love. 

God is a good, good Father. And I am loved by Him. It’s who I am.