Time…What a Gift

If you were to go back to the middle of June 2015, you’d find me in the middle of a display of Father’s Day cards in a gift shop, in the middle of a meltdown. This was the first Father’s Day after losing my dad earlier that year, and I wasn’t handling it well.

My intention had been to purchase cards for my husband, our sons, and a handful of other influential men in my life. But as I read through the sentiments, tears pooled in my eyes before overflowing and rolling down my cheeks. For the first time in who knows how many years, I wouldn’t be buying a card for my dad.

That day, I would’ve given anything (still would) for one more trip down Gregg Street in Dad’s brand-new Ford F-150 truck…to pull into a space at Sonic and order Cokes…to listen to country music and talk about whatever came up.

Time…what a gift.

This past week, Papa and I got to spend six days of quality time with a few of our grandkids. We may have eaten dessert first a time or two, laughed loud enough for the neighbors to hear us, and stayed up just a little too late. Board games, yard games, kite-flying, getting sun-kissed at the pool, books read, walks taken – check, check, check.

What we didn’t do was keep a schedule.

So today, when my internal alarm clock woke me up (the first morning the grands woke up in their own beds in their own home), a comforting familiarity with my normal routine greeted me. Ahhh, coffee and the Word. After soaking in Scripture, I opened my prayer journal where the opening page prompted me to praise my Father.

And then – surprise! – tears! I guess I’d been missing my Abba more than I realized! It wasn’t like I hadn’t prayed for the last six days, but this morning’s prayer was different. I’d had intermittent chats with the Lord throughout the days with the kids rather than a good, long conversation like I was enjoying now. I’m not at all opposed to those quick “arrow” prayers like I sent up during those six days. They were the perfect kind of prayer at the time.

But to be back in the welcoming presence of my Father to just enjoy Him? Apparently, I needed that more than I realized.

Time…what a gift.

To you dads out there, I’m grateful for the ways you love and lead your children so well – right into the arms of Father God! You set the example of loving like Jesus. You’re humble, servant-hearted, faithful, selfless, and strong. You may not get it right every time, but you do your best and pray for God’s grace to fill the gaps. You cherish those kids, and nothing brings you greater joy than to watch them flourish and grow in life and in their faith.

I’ve always been grateful for a dad who loved me so well that when I finally met the Lord, I instantly recognized a true Father in Him! Dad wasn’t perfect, and he would be the first to tell you so. If you’re like he was and you turn off the lights at night wishing you’d done a better job, here’s a little truth to hang on to. If the Lord wakes you up tomorrow, you have a brand-new day to make a call, mend a fence, toss a baseball with your boy or sweep up your little girl in your arms and dance with her around the living room. It’s never too late to make the effort and to invest the time.

You’ll never be perfect. That’s Father God’s job. He’s loved you and your kids with a perfect love since before time began. There’s nothing you’ve ever said or done that’s kept Him from passionately pursuing your heart. His deepest longing has always been to enfold you in His grace, quiet you with His peace, and walk beside you through every valley, mountain peak, and passage in between. He’s always wanted to be with you, and He wants that for eternity.

Even God in heaven spells love with those four little letters - T-I-M-E. Dads, as you try, trust, pray, and pour out your lives for your kids, know that your Father sees you and is well-pleased. And know that little boys and little girls – some of us maybe a little grown – are looking up to you with love, gratitude, and admiration. Your time…what a gift.

Happy Father’s Day!

*****

“…As God has said: ‘I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be My people…I will be a Father to you, and you will be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.’” – 2 Corinthians 6:16b, 18