Fathers. Some are related to us through birth, some through love, and some through both. Some are good and some not so much. None are perfect. Personally, my father was related to me through birth, through love, and he was—well—human. Not perfect, but doing the best he could.
My Dad
Throughout most of his life, Dad did not believe in God. Oh, he believed that there must be something out there, but that something was not a loving, personal God whom one could call “Father”. As a child, Dad lived through WWII, saw people murdered in front of his eyes, experienced his own father being deprived of the medications that would have kept him alive, and wept as Nazi soldiers took his young cousins and friends away to Auschwitz. He didn’t think that a God who allowed all that could be loving. More than that, Dad reasoned that, if a perfect God existed, He would want nothing to do with him, who was a sinner. Makes sense, even if he was wrong.
His Accomplishments
Now, several years after losing my dad, I am aware that much of what I know of my Heavenly Father was modeled to me by my earthly dad. First, he not only gave me life, but he also worked every day to make sure that I had all I needed. Food, clothes, education, and a home. My father, who was very intelligent, but had no college degree, worked hard and rose high in his place of work, earning enough to provide for his family (a wife and five children). He could have gone into business for himself, but didn’t want to risk that his family might suffer—he sacrificed his dreams for us. In turn, I never worried that I might go without—my earthly dad, like my Heavenly Father, was my provider (Dt 2:7).
How He Modeled the Heavenly Father to Me
My dad knew me—thoroughly. He could read my face, even when I was trying to hide my thoughts from him. He could read my voice over the phone. There were even times when I didn’t know that I was upset, Dad would ask me what was wrong, and I would burst into tears. Like my Heavenly Father, whom Psalm 139 says knows when I go in and when I go out, knows my thoughts and what I am going to say, my earthly dad knew me. Not supernaturally, of course, but because he was tuned into me in love. That psalm is my favorite because, having experienced my dad’s benevolent knowledge of me, a Heavenly Father who knows me is attractive, not frightening.
I was Dad’s delight, and I knew it. He would drop everything when I phoned. He always wanted to spin out visits to my home. His face would light up whenever our eyes met. Embarrassingly, he would brag about me to any passerby who was willing to listen. Although Dad knew better than most that I’m not perfect, he acted as if I am. Similarly, the Bible says that my Heavenly Father delights in me (Ps 149:4), He bends down to hear what I am saying (Ps 116:2), He keeps my tears in a bottle (Ps 56:8) and, because of Jesus, He treats me as if I am wonderful. Because of my earthly dad’s love, I have no problem with believing that my Heavenly Father loves me.
He Ended Well
Finally, my earthly dad would have, and did, sacrifice everything for me and his other children. I’ve seen him climb a tall, tall tree to rescue my tiny brothers; I was grateful when he jumped into a lake to save me when I was drowning; I was moved to tears in seeing him sacrifice most of his retirement savings for a child who was in desperate need. During Dad’s last days, while dying of pancreatic cancer, he would often beckon me over and breathlessly confess that he was frightened. Holding his frail hand, I asked him if he was frightened of the pain or death itself. Always, he said, “No, I’m worried about how you all will cope. I don’t want you to be sad. Please take care of your mother for me!” As Jesus was facing the cross, what did he talk about with His disciples? He told them to love each other (Jn 13); He reassured them that He was coming back; He was concerned about them, not Himself. He was all about telling us how to live best—because He loves us.
Ever since I invited Jesus into my life at 18 years old, I kept telling my sweet atheist dad all about the God who loves us. Several family members did the same. I don’t think he ever knew that the main way I knew about God was through his example. Nonetheless, three days before my precious father died, he accepted Jesus and he found out, personally, that God loves him. The peace that filled our home was amazing.
Of course, not everyone has the privilege of having an earthly dad like mine. But, I am happy to say that there is a Heavenly Father who loves us. Every one of us. We only need to turn and look.