“God is the archetypal Father; all other fatherhood is a more or less imperfect copy of his perfect fatherhood.” — F.F. Bruce, Scottish Bible Scholar and Writer
Rainy days or sunshining days, and days when the summer morning heat was blistering and days before going to work, 17 miles away from my home in Illinois, Monday thru Friday, at 5:00 a.m. I would take my two oldest sons to a nearby school yard to help them develop their basketball skills. Of course, Saturdays and Sundays were usually skipped due to church related responsibilities. One son was about to try out for the 9th grade team at the time. He not only made the team, but he advanced his skills to be one of the best high school basketball players in the city and later coach at a Christian school’s secondary school teams. By the way, the older son is now the Senior Pastor of the church I attend. The other son was only in the second grade, but he wanted to go through the same drills that his oldest brother went through, even on the rainy days. Only lightening would stop us from going through our routine drills. This younger son went on to play varsity basketball at the highest level in high school in Indiana, eventually making the decision to focus on his favorite sport, baseball. At the time, I was about 39 years old. I was not a perfect father, but a good father.
I talked with the younger son last week and he let me know that he was doing the same thing with his son who was playing on a high school team in Los Angeles. We laughed as he recalled those rainy days that did not stop him from working out. And as we shared memories of playing in the dark on those early mornings, with the only light radiating from the pole lights on the school yard, he shared another good report. Just like I played with Barbie Dolls with my two daughters, he told me how he had a tea party with his daughter and allowed her to practice her make-up skills on him. Look! When you spend quality time with your children, you may not earn the title of “Perfect Father,” but you will fall in the category of a good father.
Now listen! Praise God that our Father, which art in Heaven, is a perfect Father. And before you and your sons and daughters, regardless of the age of your offspring, head to church this morning, look to the hills from whence commeth our help, and ask our Perfect Father to bless you to be a help to your children in staying on the path of righteousness or getting back on the path of righteousness, and also, not to forsake the assembly of the saints. Be blessed!
“As for God, His way is blameless. The word of the Lord is tested [it is perfect, it is faultless];
He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him. For who is God, but the Lord? Or who is a rock, except our God, the God who encircles me with strength and makes my way blameless? He makes my feet like hinds’ feet [able to stand firmly and tread safely on paths of testing and trouble]; He sets me [securely] upon my high places.” (Psalm 18:30-33 Amplified Bible)
Committed to the climb,
Mark L. King
It is a blessing how you were able to care and nurture our children. God blessed us with that and certainly you are good father. Our heavenly Father is a perfect Father and He walks us through our storms and our joys. That is also a blessing.