Fathers
Someone whom I know that was estranged from her father recently was reunited with him. The parents got divorced when this person was young and like most children, she was caught in the middle. This child just remembers one fall her father coming home and then leaving and that was the last time they were a real family. Her father was at her graduation and a few things but they were few and far between. This person grew up with the impression that her father didn't love her.
But then, about six months ago, she reached out and her father responded. They have had some serious talks and she has discovered how much her father has and does love her. One thing that made a lasting impression on her was that he brought her two large tubs of memorabilia that he kept of her. He kept baby clothes, coloring books, crayons, Barbie dolls, mementos of birthdays, tickets from Funsville...ect. He had been keeping this stuff...HER stuff with him all these years. This was validation of his love for her. To her it meant that she wasn't forgotten about, it meant that he cared, it meant he wanted a relationship with his little girl. She was a casualty of the war between the parents, and yet both parents do love this child they just had stuff between them that crossed over.
Today, the relationship is budding. This young woman is like a little girl when she talks with her father on the phone. They text each other and try to see each other at least once a month...they live about three hours from each other. He was able to make it to her college graduation and even though he missed a lot of her childhood hopefully he will be around for his grandchildren. He has met her husband and stayed at her very first home. She has visited his home and been his workplace. They are now a very real part of each others lives.
That brings me to thoughts of our heavenly Father. We are connected to him because he is our creator and he is the one that gave us eternal life. "My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth." Psalm 121:2. "For whoever finds je finds life, and obtains favor from the Lord." Proverb 8:35.
Connections are important but we have to work on our relationship with our heavenly Father just as we have to work on our relationship with our earthly fathers. Unless there is some substance, time and effort put into our relationship with God there is not going to be much of a relationship and therefore not much growth. "I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears." 2 Kings 20:5. "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10. "Also day by day, from the first day until the last day, he read from the Book of the Law of God." Nehemiah 8:18
Unlike our earthly relationships, our Heavenly Father will never make a mistake with us. "Say among the nations, 'The Lord reigns; the world also is firmly established, it shall not be moved.' Psalm 96:10. It can only be us that causes a separation. We drift away from God, from our relationship with him. It is not the other way around. We have to be on our toes; we have to work on our relationship and want it as much as we do with our earthly father or our spouse or for that matter our friends. Just as it was the desire of this young lady's heart so must a relationship with Jesus be a desire of our hearts. "For the Lord searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts." 1 Chronicle 28:9
So, please today, renew your relationship with the Lord. Don't go backwards and worry about what was or wasn't done but move forward and make a relationship with your Father the desire of your heart. Put your heart and soul into this one special relationship...one that lasts for eternity.
"The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding , the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord." Isaiah 11:2
But then, about six months ago, she reached out and her father responded. They have had some serious talks and she has discovered how much her father has and does love her. One thing that made a lasting impression on her was that he brought her two large tubs of memorabilia that he kept of her. He kept baby clothes, coloring books, crayons, Barbie dolls, mementos of birthdays, tickets from Funsville...ect. He had been keeping this stuff...HER stuff with him all these years. This was validation of his love for her. To her it meant that she wasn't forgotten about, it meant that he cared, it meant he wanted a relationship with his little girl. She was a casualty of the war between the parents, and yet both parents do love this child they just had stuff between them that crossed over.
Today, the relationship is budding. This young woman is like a little girl when she talks with her father on the phone. They text each other and try to see each other at least once a month...they live about three hours from each other. He was able to make it to her college graduation and even though he missed a lot of her childhood hopefully he will be around for his grandchildren. He has met her husband and stayed at her very first home. She has visited his home and been his workplace. They are now a very real part of each others lives.
That brings me to thoughts of our heavenly Father. We are connected to him because he is our creator and he is the one that gave us eternal life. "My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth." Psalm 121:2. "For whoever finds je finds life, and obtains favor from the Lord." Proverb 8:35.
Connections are important but we have to work on our relationship with our heavenly Father just as we have to work on our relationship with our earthly fathers. Unless there is some substance, time and effort put into our relationship with God there is not going to be much of a relationship and therefore not much growth. "I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears." 2 Kings 20:5. "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10. "Also day by day, from the first day until the last day, he read from the Book of the Law of God." Nehemiah 8:18
Unlike our earthly relationships, our Heavenly Father will never make a mistake with us. "Say among the nations, 'The Lord reigns; the world also is firmly established, it shall not be moved.' Psalm 96:10. It can only be us that causes a separation. We drift away from God, from our relationship with him. It is not the other way around. We have to be on our toes; we have to work on our relationship and want it as much as we do with our earthly father or our spouse or for that matter our friends. Just as it was the desire of this young lady's heart so must a relationship with Jesus be a desire of our hearts. "For the Lord searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts." 1 Chronicle 28:9
So, please today, renew your relationship with the Lord. Don't go backwards and worry about what was or wasn't done but move forward and make a relationship with your Father the desire of your heart. Put your heart and soul into this one special relationship...one that lasts for eternity.
"The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding , the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord." Isaiah 11:2
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