Just thinking about Dad

Just thinking – it’s almost my birthday and it’s also the anniversary of my Dad’s death. I’m not on a morbid trip, but a short journey down Memory Lane.

I loved Dad and he loved me. As I grew up there was lots of family time. Dad was an excellent story-teller, he played games, helped with homework, always encouraged and even corrected when needed. And of course Dad provided for our needs.

But I was thinking of my earliest memories of Dad. He was good at washing a little person’s hair. I’d sit in the bath with my head tilted back. Dad was patient and rarely got shampoo or water in my eyes. And then the fun of drying my hair began. I would sit on Dad’s lap. He had two corners of the towel in his hands and I would have the other two corners in my hands. And from there it was a see-saw motion of the towel over my hair to get it dry. We had to work together to complete the task.

I was just thinking - I have another Father who loves me and provides for me. He encourages and corrects me when needed. I also believe He loves it when I spend time in his company and we work together on a task He has given me. It’s like God my Father has the two corners of the towel in his hands and I have the other two corners and we work together to get the job done ... and along the way we enjoy each other’s company.

And then there’s another thought. I admired my Dad and always wanted to be like him. He had lovely thick black hair and that’s what I wanted. Mine was fine and mousey coloured. We were different in many ways but when people told me I looked like my Dad (we had the same shaped nose!) I would be over the moon.

I was just thinking – about my Father in heaven. I know I’m very different to him, but are there some similarities? Am I growing more like Jesus, the Son? And if someone recognises any family likeness am I over the moon?

How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called the children of God! And that is what we are! ….. And we know that when he appears we shall be like him. Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure. (1 John 3.1-3)