Father's Day

Deuteronomy 5:16 – Honour thy father and thy mother, as the Lord thy God hath commanded thee; that thy days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with thee, in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. (KJV)

The year after Dad died, when I walked down the card aisles and saw all the Father's Day cards, I struggled with sadness. Now, many years have passed, but I still choke up from time to time. I miss my father, but as a Christian, I am consoled because Jesus enables me to take my loneliness to God. Through Christ's death and resurrection, I can come confidently to the heavenly Father, assured that God understands. The reason? When Jesus cried out on Calvary's cross, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" (Mark 15:34 KJV) He felt the loneliness of separation, for our sin separated Him from God. What agony that must have been for the Son — and for the heavenly Father!

Today, many nursing home residents keenly miss their families because they live miles apart. Sadly, some residents and their families still do not have a personal relationship with Christ Jesus. Thus they miss out on the special consolation our heavenly Father offers. Gladly, some personal care homes arrange for special worship services to bring joy into their residents' days. Likewise, when we visit these folk, we also become God's arms and legs easing loneliness. We become like a family — the family of God, for Scripture affirms, "God setteth the solitary in families." (Psalm 68:6a KJV) Through Christ, God sets believers within His family.

Some of us have never experienced the love of a father in the ways that most people expect. In such a case, it is crucial for us to experience the love of God — the ideal father we never had.

This Father's Day, as those of us who can, do remember our own fathers who gave us life, provided our needs, and supported our dreams, let us reach out to those who may be feeling lonely. Let's share with them the love and grace that God has granted us through Jesus Christ, His Son. Let's be His arms and legs. Similarly, let us point the lonely to our heavenly Father who does know what it is like to be separated.

Prayer: Loving God, You promised to set the lonely in families. Provide families to embrace those who feel lonely this Father's Day. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.