Since it is Father's Day, I would just like to say thank you to all the fathers who may have stumbled across my blog. Especially, my dad who I cannot thank enough.
But it's been more than a month since I've posted and I have something to get out, so I'll try not to spend to much time rambling at the beginning like I usually do.
In two months time I will be in Peru, so that is that. Moving on.
Today, I spent time with my dad by attending church with my parents. They are part of a church plant. Mom leads the kids, and Dad heads up their men's ministry. I don't visit there often, since I am so involved in my church, but I am blessed each time. Today was special because there was a child dedication.
I love these. At our church, Pastor K. gets so excited to see the little babies and children and pray over each one, and our friend Pastor Scott is not much different. Quite a few children were dedicated this Father's Day, including his own youngest son. But that wasn't what got me. It was the last two babies dedicated that made me tear up today, and not because they were cute (which they were), but because they were foster kids.
Their foster parents have such love and commitment for these children, that they brought them before the church and dedicated them to the Lord. And as the pastor spoke, I couldn't help but think of something my mom had told me when my oldest sibling left for the Navy. She said, "Its not easy to watch your baby leave, but he doesn't belong to me. He belongs to God, and he's only mine for a little while."
I have always loved to hear stories of adoption because they remind me of how God, like adoptive parents saught us out and was willing to pay a great price to make us His children. And as Christians, that is what we are. He is our Father, the Bible tells us that our spirit calls Him ABBA, Daddy. He is our Lord, yes; our Savior, of course, but also our Daddy. He made us His. And He longs, just like any adotive father, to hear us call Him that. We have been reborn into His family and are now co-heirs with His Only Begotten Son, Jesus.
But while on this earth God has given us each "foster" parents. Some of us are fortunate in the way Jesus was to have earthly parents like Mary and Joseph. I also have parents who love God and have chosen to raise me and my siblings to follow His Word and to love Him as they do.
Like those babies I saw today, my parents realize that although I am only theirs for a little while, they have a great responsibility to care for me, not just for my sake, but for the glory of their Abba God who has trusted them with four of His own children.
Many Christians, unfortunately are not blessed like I to have loving Christian parents. However, many times God provides them with other earthly "foster parents". My own parents were such to many a child, teen , young adult, and baby Christian my whole childhood, and are now to many more. Many find great mentors in church leaders, pastors, or just the nice couple in the next pew. They are just people who love their Father, and accept His call to care for His children, just for a little while. Like my mom and dad, they care and provide for them with the knowledge that they are not their own, all the while loving and sacrificing for them as if they were.
So today, Father's Day, I am exceeding greatful for my Heavenly Father and the love and grace He gives me each day, especcially in the form of my very own earthly father, and the other men, who have at times taken on the role of "foster father" in my life.
My challenge: Say a prayer for your own earthly father, whether or not He is a Joseph, and for the other men who have been like a father to you. Thank God for His great plan in bringing them each into your life, and for preparing them for the work He has called them to do for His kingdom.
Happy Fathers Day!
