His name is Rick, and he’s an accountant. Dad hasn’t led a flashy life, but his impact on the lives of four young adults—my siblings and me—can’t be measured.
Randy Alcorn wrote in "The Privilege of Fatherhood" that human fatherhood “is the shadow; [God’s] is the substance, which casts the shadow. Our fatherhood is to point our children to their Father in Heaven.”
My dad has done that. Here are three things he’s shown me about my heavenly Father:
He delights in me. From the time I was a little girl, I never doubted that my dad truly liked me. It was evident that one of his favorite things in life (along with watching Ohio State football) was to spend time with his wife and children. He attended my brother’s soccer games, came to my ballet recitals, and was quick to arrange a fun family outing.
When I was 17, my dad took me on a birthday date to a fancy restaurant by the beach. Dad listened while I chattered on about friends and upcoming college visits. That night, I felt completely secure in my father’s delight in me.
Zephaniah 3:17 tells me that my heavenly Father feels the same way. “He will exult over you with joy, He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.” Because of my dad, I believe that. My dad taught me that my relationship with my heavenly Father is about much more than discipline.
He’s always available to help. Whether it was the math homework I cried over, boy trouble, or a temporary lack of funds during college, my dad was quick to offer help in any way he could. (This generosity was a trait he received from my grandfather, who used to systematically buy plane tickets for his grandchildren to come visit him.)
Although a human father has limits, my dad’s availability and eagerness to help showed me that my Heavenly Father is “an ever-present help in trouble” (Ps. 46:1).
He loves me. Recently, my sister sent me a reflection on her relationship with our dad:
“I remember curling up on the couch with my daddy while watching television together when I was a little girl. I felt totally safe in his arms. It was a peaceful confidence that nothing could harm me and that I was dearly loved.
“I am so thankful for a dad who loved me openly and lavishly. He communicated this love through his words and actions. From encouraging me and telling me I looked beautiful, to letting me snuggle with him on the couch—I knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that I was loved by my daddy.”
A few weekends ago, I was visiting my parents, who live several states away. In the midst of the hustle and bustle created by my toddlers, my dad paused to say, “I love you.” Even though I’m grown up, the words touched me as they have all my life. And to think that my heavenly Father loves me even more than that.
Written by Suzanne Gosselin
