“Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with a promise…” Ephesians 6:2
We all have fathers in our lives that teach us lessons. We have God, the Father of all creation, who teaches us many lessons. We have a biological father, he may directly or indirectly teach us lessons. We have grandfathers, again we learn directly or indirectly. We may not have been able to get to know each of our earthly fathers in person, but there are still lessons to learn from them if we are open to learn.
I want to do something a little different with this Niki’s Thoughts today…I want to honor the fathers in my life. I’m going to go in order from youngest to oldest. I need you to know that every father in my life has taught me many lessons. Some of the lessons have overlapped and been learned from more than one father figure. I am going to limit myself to pick just one for each - but please know I am so grateful for the many lessons they have each taught me.
My husband. My husband has been a father for longer than I have known him, but I have been blessed to witness him being a father in action for more than a decade now. I have learned loyalty from my husband. He is fiercely loyal to those he loves, and that extends to all our children and to our granddaughter. Many times, they may not see how deeply loyal he is towards them, but I see it, and I am blessed to be within his inner circle of loyalty.
My bonus dad (some might label him as my stepdad). My dad has taught me about love. He loves my siblings and I the same as if we were his own. By the grace of God, we are his through marriage. He loved us when we were being difficult. He loved us when we were ill. He loved us before we loved him. He loves us deeply, and without wavering. He loves our momma in a way that taught us how to love our spouses. His love is a huge blessing to our family. His love is a huge blessing to me.
My uncle Mark. My uncle Mark taught me about humble generosity. He taught about generosity without judgement. He taught me about generosity with more than just money, but with time, love, and talents. He taught me the joy of giving - giving of our times, talents, treasures…giving of ourselves to others. He taught me that generosity is an overflowing of our love and gratitude for all that God has given us.
My godfather. My godfather has lived far from me most of my life. Yet, in the times we had been able to spend together in my younger years, and a few in my adult years, my godfather has taught me about having an even temper. My godfather has always been a calm, even tempered man. I rarely, if ever, have heard him raise his voice. His even tempered nature has taught me that there are ways to be effective without being overly emotional.
My daddy. My daddy taught me how to fish. He taught me that even though we don’t catch something every time, we still keep going fishing. Through fishing he taught me many lessons. He taught me to slow down, and enjoy the moments that are fleeting, and the ones that are lasting. He taught me to throw my lines out even if I did not think the fish were biting that day. These lessons help me to remember that even if I can’t see the fish they are still there, and they might take the bait one day. So, as I write my little thought posts, I am using God’s love, His Word, as my bait, hoping to do as Jesus taught us, hoping to be a fisher of men. A lesson I learned from my daddy.
My father in love (some might label him my father in law). I only got to have a short time with my father in love, the Lord called him to heaven several years ago. In the cherished times I got to spend with him, he taught me about balancing toughness, strength with kindness. He was a man who was strong in character - years before I knew him he was physically strong too. A Vietnam war Marine. He was kind to me. He was kind to my children. He showed strength and kindness in full measure to our family. May his memory be eternal.
My maternal grandfather. Grandpa and I got to spend a lot of time together, he taught me may lessons. However, I am most grateful that he taught me to seek God. He encouraged me to ask questions, to learn, to gain wisdom from God and in His Word. He taught me to seek God in weekly worship on Sunday mornings but also in all we do every day. He taught me about seeking God in prayer, not just at church or before meals but to pray without ceasing - to just talk with God. Grandpa taught me to seek God, and yet it wasn’t until after he graduated from this life to the next that those lessons really started to sink in and a deep thirst for God really took root.
My paternal grandfather. Papa taught me to be a hard worker, to be good at it too. He taught me that we can keep working hard long after the world might tell us we have nothing left to give. He taught me that we should work hard in all we do - work, family, fun. Papa taught me that hard work comes in many forms and looks different in the different seasons of life. He taught me to keep working hard, even when it seems like I’m not making progress. Another lesson that really sunk in after he passed from this life, he taught me to keep working hard even when no one is watching.
My Heavenly Father. God has taught me so many lessons. Every lesson I have learned from one of the fathers in my life - those I mentioned here and many others besides - I have learned because God placed them in my life to teach and to guide me. However, God has also taught me lessons that I have not learned anywhere else but from Him. Time spent in His Word, time spent in intentional prayer, time spent being still in His presence have all taught me lessons that only God could teach. But, since I am sharing one lesson from each father today, I will share this from my Heavenly Father: healing. Lately, God has been teaching me about healing. Healing from the hurts of the past. Healing that comes from realizing the blame was placed on the wrong party. Healing that comes through forgiveness (forgiveness that has nothing to do with an apology from those who hurt us and sometimes comes without their knowledge).
Today, as we honor the fathers in our lives - those still here and those who have passed on - let us pause to remember, to recognize, to celebrate the lessons they have taught us. Some might immediately come to mind. Others might take time to bubble up to the surface. Still others might need an outside perspective to realize the lesson taught.
Wishing all fathers, especially the fathers in my life (mentioned and not) a very blessed, a very Happy Father’s Day.
To God be all the glory, forever and always.
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