Skip to content or main menu

A Father’s Love

Posted on June 18, 2011 by Marlo Jenkins

I am so grateful for a Heavenly Father whom I know loves me unconditionally. Being loved by God, as father, is something that some people have a difficult time wrapping their head and hearts around because of the type of earthly father they had. That’s very sad.

I’m also grateful for an earthly father who loved God deeply and loved me very much as well. What a great thing to be 47 years old (… please, let me finish the sentence), and never have had a doubt about my dad’s love for me. Certainly there were times when I know he was disappointed with me or frustrated with me (I’m pretty sure I gave him reason). However, I can confidently say, there has never been a time when my earthly father has not loved me. With even greater confidence, I can say this about my Heavenly Father. As a matter of fact, because He is God, I was known and loved by Him before I was even born – that’s not easy for my finite mind to comprehend, but that’s what the Bible tells us.

Being a father is one of the greatest things about my life. This certainly doesn’t mean I was a perfect dad – I failed many times in various ways. I think what was probably helpful was my willingness to admit my failure to my children and ask for their forgiveness where that was necessary.

My wife and I have been blessed with three children – currently all teenagers (for another three days only). Certainly being a father can bring frustrations, failures and disappointments. However, on this Father’s Day weekend, I am privileged to be able to say that, by far, the joys and the positive adventures of being a dad outweigh the challenges. I think of bringing each precious ‘bundle’ home from the hospital. I think of asking God for strength and wisdom. I think of being told by my son, “Don’t say ‘wicked’ dad.” I think of teaching my children to love God, to waterski, to share, to not throw their food (except for those food fights I started), to respect their mother, to choose their friends carefully, to look adults in the eye and ‘SPEAK UP’, to love life, to encourage people, to make their bed (actually, that was their mother), to love music, sports and God’s Word (not necessarily in that order), and to know that the most important commitment they will make in life is to their Heavenly Father who loves them more than anyone ever could – even more than their earthly dad!