Thursday, August 19, 2010

My Father's Love

I am just back after spending a couple of weekends with my parents. I love the way we (my siblings and I) relate to them. They are more our friends than just two grown up adults. They have always maintained that I have been a rebellious kid. Someone who always wanted to have her way with everything. Whenever they advise me and if I don’t agree I have had the freedom to argue it out, fight it out, give my opinion…. And still be loved with the same love; still be welcome into a warm hug. They don’t put me in a scenario where I have to obey them just because they are my parents. They don’t sulk or push me aside when I haven’t done things the way they wanted me to. They have always given my happiness, my future the topmost priority. There are times when I have heard them say that I was right. Maybe I was right in one out of fifty scenarios but I love them for not forcing their decision on me the 49 times I was wrong but for willing to listen to me, willing to hear my arguments, willing to listen to someone much younger to them, willing to wait, willing to pray, willing to so selflessly sacrifice to see their daughter happy. And when I was right, willing to say that they were wrong though they are much older and much wiser. I love them and respect them immensely and am yet to see better parents than them. They’re not perfect, they do make mistakes as parents … but one thing they never stop doing is love me and want my happiness.


Today morning as I sat watching Joyce Meyer on television, she preached about us having God’s DNA. Since we are His children, we have his DNA. We are created to be like Him, to walk like Him, to talk like Him. I loved that message and my mind travelled to my earthly father and his love for me. My father becomes a kid when he is with us. He would make funny noises, act silly, do funny actions, make us laugh. He isn’t this way with everyone. He becomes a different person when he is with us. At the same time when any of us is upset, he would pamper us so much that you feel so loved and so special. Whenever I sulked, Dad would pamper and fuss over me so much till I was laughing and happy again. We are five kids, but there has never been a time when I felt I was one among five kids. I have always been loved and been so specially held and cherished like I was their only kid. I am sure my brothers and sister, each feel the same way I do.


This is very very small reflection of my Heavenly Father’s love for me. We sometimes think of God as one serious person who has this rule book. There have been people who have told me they wished they had a dad like mine. Well, the good news is that we all have a much better dad than my earthly dad. Someone who loves us so much. Someone to whom our laughter means the world. Someone who would say funny things, do funny things just to bring a smile on our face. Someone who’s heart breaks when he sees our tears. Someone who flies into a rage when people hurt us. Someone who watches out for us. Someone who wants us to obey him, not out of force but out of love. Someone to whom our happiness means more than His life.


Someone who could give his life, his every drop of blood to pay our ransom price.


I am blessed to have such a good and wonderful person as my earthly father. But I think what makes me more blessed and fortunate is that I have my Heavenly Father. In spite of the millions in this world, I know I am loved, held special and cherished like I am His only child. And I also know, it is this way with each of His children. I know He looks down on me with pride and love every time He sees me smile. And when I am upset, all I need to do is switch my mind off the problems and think about His love, and my heart and my face cannot help but smile at my Father’s love.


Thank you, heavenly father for the immense immense love you have for me…. And thank you for the amazing dad you have blessed me with.


1 John 3:1a - How great is the love the Father has lavished on us (NIV)
1John 3:1a - SEE WHAT [[
a]an incredible] quality of love the Father has given (shown, bestowed on) us