I have sat in church through the years and listened to many sermons tell about God as our Heavenly Father. Having been raised by a loving father, I enjoy this mental picture that tries to explain the love God has for us, his children. My husband, on the other hand, was raised in a broken home, abandoned by his father. Picturing God as anywhere near the image of his earthly father is not a good thing for him. He could not even begin to relate to those sermons, until he became a father himself. The Referee is a natural father. He loves his children, and it shows. He worries about not measuring up, having no example to follow. Thankfully, he has God, our Heavenly Father, to show him the way. As a result, he is giving his own children a loving father, so they will understand the love of God.
God is our strength. He wraps his arms around us and holds us near to him. We do not have to go through life alone. We do not have to endure on our own. He is always there to hold us, to comfort us, to encourage us.
The Referee is a rock during times of adversity. He has the ability to stop, listen, think, and respond calmly. He is steady when everyone else is quaking. The children & I can reach for him when we need to catch our balance. Right now, we are in the midst of Jersey #2 facing another heart surgery. She has had to go through a series of medical tests and procedures. She is a tough kid, and quite a trooper. But, this is a lot for a 6-year old to handle. She started to become sullen and tearful. So, The Referee pulled her aside to ask what was going on. Sitting at church, listening to her name being added to the prayer request list, seeing people look at her and smile, was too much. She said she was having a really hard time being strong for everyone...
The Referee scooped her up and reminded her that yes, she was a really strong girl. But, no, she is not required to be strong for everyone. It is hard to always be strong. He told her that he has strength enough for both of them, so if ever she does not want to be strong anymore, she can come to him and he will be strong enough for her too. In an instant, our happy-go-lucky 6-year old returned. She knows her Daddy is a rock.
Fast forward a few weeks later, when Jersey #2 put her arms up to him...that rock scooped her up, put his arms around her, held her close, and carried her out of the hospital after her MRI scan was complete. She rested peacefully in his arms, knowing he had strength enough for both of them.
She can lean on him for strength. One day she will be able to understand what it means to lean on her Heavenly Father, because she was able to lean on her earthly father.
God is our strength. He wraps his arms around us and holds us near to him. We do not have to go through life alone. We do not have to endure on our own. He is always there to hold us, to comfort us, to encourage us.
The Referee is a rock during times of adversity. He has the ability to stop, listen, think, and respond calmly. He is steady when everyone else is quaking. The children & I can reach for him when we need to catch our balance. Right now, we are in the midst of Jersey #2 facing another heart surgery. She has had to go through a series of medical tests and procedures. She is a tough kid, and quite a trooper. But, this is a lot for a 6-year old to handle. She started to become sullen and tearful. So, The Referee pulled her aside to ask what was going on. Sitting at church, listening to her name being added to the prayer request list, seeing people look at her and smile, was too much. She said she was having a really hard time being strong for everyone...
The Referee scooped her up and reminded her that yes, she was a really strong girl. But, no, she is not required to be strong for everyone. It is hard to always be strong. He told her that he has strength enough for both of them, so if ever she does not want to be strong anymore, she can come to him and he will be strong enough for her too. In an instant, our happy-go-lucky 6-year old returned. She knows her Daddy is a rock.
Fast forward a few weeks later, when Jersey #2 put her arms up to him...that rock scooped her up, put his arms around her, held her close, and carried her out of the hospital after her MRI scan was complete. She rested peacefully in his arms, knowing he had strength enough for both of them.
She can lean on him for strength. One day she will be able to understand what it means to lean on her Heavenly Father, because she was able to lean on her earthly father.
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