Rev. Joshua Murray
Christ Cumberland Presbyterian Church
Father’s Day is fast approaching. I might be biased, but my father is the best. My parents divorced very early in my life, and my dad was always involved in my life.
I remember running around dad’s house as a young child with my superhero cape and superhero underwear, watching my favorite super hero movies with my dad every weekend I was over at his house.
I only found out a few years ago in a conversation with him that he really, really disliked them. I asked why he sat through them so many times if he disliked them so much, and he told me, “You loved them. They were important to you. Because of that, they became important to me.”
Actually, I have been blessed for almost my entire life to have not just a father who loves and cares for me, but a stepfather who has never treated me as less than wonderful. Both of my dads have watched out for me, taken care of me, protected me, and loved me completely.
No matter what I’ve done or how much of a jerk I’ve been to them at times, I’ve always known I could count on them to be there when I needed them.
In 1 Thessalonians 2: 10-12 Paul writes a perfect example of how fathers should raise their children:
“You are witnesses, and so is God, how devoutly and uprightly and blamelessly we behaved toward you believers; just as you know how we were exhorting and encouraging and imploring each one of you as a father would his own children, so that you would walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.”
After food, shelter, and clothing, the most important need that children have is to know that they are loved, that they are cared for, and that they matter. As Father’s Day comes near, remember that we serve a God who fulfills all of these needs for us. We don’t have to walk this world and face our troubles alone. We have the support of an all-knowing, all-encompassing parent whose only wish is that we become the best people we can be.
May God bless you today, and if you do not have a church home, the wonderful people of Christ Cumberland Presbyterian Church would love the chance to meet you.
Christ Cumberland Presbyterian Church
19501 Holly Lane, Lutz FL 33548
Phone: (813) 909-9789
Sun. Ser. 10:30