Many of my friends and loved ones have
fathers who love them deeply, were present in their childhood, and were
examples of hard work, charity, faith, and devotion. Many do not. This is for
both parties. Because regardless of the degree of fatherly devotion you’ve experienced
in your life, each of us have a perfect dad to look up to. No earthly father is
without faults, but we have a Heavenly Father whose love can more than make up
for the shortcomings of all the male figures in our lives. Because just as I
believe all women have a divine role as mother, I believe also that all men
have a divine role as a father, irrelevant of the presence of actual posterity.
One of the leaders of my church once said
this:
In the message of the gospel, the entire human race is one family descended from a single God. All men and women have not only a physical lineage leading back to Adam and Eve, their first earthly parents, but also a spiritual heritage leading back to God the Eternal Father. Thus, all persons on earth are literally brothers and sisters in the family of God.
It is in understanding and accepting this universal fatherhood of God that all human beings can best appreciate God’s concern for them and their relationship to each other. This is a message of life and love that strikes squarely against all stifling traditions based on race, language, economic or political standing, educational rank, or cultural background, for we are all of the same spiritual descent. We have a divine pedigree; every person is a spiritual child of God.
This is but an echo of the scripture in
Romans 8 that says: “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we
are the children of god.” We truly are children of God. I am deeply grateful for that knowledge. I have felt my Father's love in dark times. His hand is evident in
times of cheer and tragedy. He is ever-listening, ever-loving, ever-guiding to those
who hearken to his words.
One thing I always take for granted is
prayer. It is a direct line to the God of all. Whenever you need him, he is
there. You have a personal phone line to the one who keeps the world spinning.
It is always open, never busy, the connection is never broken. I am grateful he
cares enough about me to offer me that. He answers your pleas. Of this I am certain.
I am grateful for the never-ending proof of
His love for us. He gave us this beautiful world. Flowers are a strong
testimony of God’s love for us. He could have created a pretty flower with a
sweet scent for us to enjoy. Instead, he’s given us over 400,000 types of
flowers worldwide, so we have a wide variety of beauties to relish over and
over again. That’s the kind of love Heavenly Father has for us. 400,000 times
more than I can fathom.
Most of all, I’m especially grateful for
the love God has shown us through sending his son. Through Christ, we have a
perfect example, a perfect friend, and a way to return to our Father. Never mourn the shortcomings of a father
figure, for we have all we need. We have a god who continually watches over us. To those who feel fatherless, please know that you are loved.
I want to express gratitude to the many fatherly figures in my life who have
worked hard to emulate the love and devotion of our father above. Thank you to
the new fathers who are trying their best, thank you to the empty nesters who
have worn out their life in the service of their family, and thank you to
bishops, pastors, mentors, counselors, and other community leaders who have
acted as fathers to the fatherless. Thank you, fathers. May you continue to
direct, guide us to THE father of all.
