Father's Day Thoughts

Yesterday was Father's Day and it's a big deal here in the Philippines. Our church community especially makes a big deal of both Mother's and Father's Days with special Sunday morning programs. Yesterday was delightful. After an extended period of worship facilitated by music and singing, the little kids did a few presentations. I really wish I would have brought our camera because the costumes were adorable. Apparently one of the young guys living at our church's transitional home for trouble boys created all of the costumes himself. Impressive. There was the sun, a tree, butterflies, a bird, a tiger, a zebra, a fish, and Adam & Eve. They danced to the song, "Let everything that has breath praise the Lord." They also danced to "I could sing of your love forever." The best part was seeing some of the kids smiling huge and looking over at their parents to see if they were watching, and then seeing them smile even larger when they found a proud-faced father or mother watching them. I really hope our future kids get some time with us while still in Cebu and get to be a part of this community. It feels so alive.
Andrey received his first Father's day card. I didn't mention it before but I also received my first Mother's day card last month. Both were made by one of the youth in our church that we have become close to in the past several months. She is 18 but you wouldn't know it if you met her as spending time with her is more like being with a bubbly, affectionate 13 year old. Her father died when she was younger and her mother verbally, physically and emotionally abused her for most of her life. She was also neglected and received very little love and attention during her childhood. Just 2 years ago she finally left her mother's home as the abuse became unbearable and the Department of Social Welfare stepped in. Anyway, she and another girl the same age with a similar difficult past (no father around and a mother who struggles to provide for the family's physical needs, much less their emotional needs) have grown very close to us. We try and spend time together with them regularly. Some Sundays we take them out to lunch or other days they come over for a meal. They call and text us regularly throughout the week and we encourage and support them as much as we are able. They are beautiful girls. They are both very involved in our church community which has been loving them since they were much younger and they really have grown a lot and have experienced the love of the Father as they've drawn closer and closer to Him. It's awesome to see them experiencing the love of Jesus and then be challenged to step out and share him with others. I could go on about that...
But the point is that Andrey got his first Father's Day card and I feel like it is significant. It is possible this is the last Father's Day without children. That's a fun thought.
I am incredibly thankful for my father. I see the kids in our church that grew up or are growing up with both a mother and a stable father and how much more mature and healthy they are compared to the majority of the youth in our church who have only 1 or no healthy parent in their lives. What a difference!
Both Andrey and I grew up with fathers. Good fathers. And a big part of us knowing the love of our Heavenly Father is due to the love and presence of our earthly fathers. I believe it's been easier for us to relate to and be loved by God since we were brought up being loved by our earthly fathers. It's much easier to believe we have a Father God, Abba father, Daddy in heaven after we have been loved through our human fathers. The same goes for mothers as I believe God is neither male or female but embodies both male and female characteristics since we were made in his image - but for some reason we refer to God as our Father more than God our Mother which I think is equally as accurate. Due to the limitations of our language, I guess. Although in the bible, there is something to relating to God as our Father and I think that maybe God knew that there would be more of a need for us to know our Heavenly Father, as he knew so many of his children would have to grow up without earthly fathers. I know men are not all bad and that there are plenty of women out there not involved in their children's lives but you have to admit that there are many more absent fathers than absent mothers.
Well all that to say is - I am SO thankful. I am SO blessed to be loved by several fathers. My Abba, my American dad, and my Canadian dad whom I've grown to love in the past 6 years. I know I am loved and supported and I receive much encouragement every time I speak with any of them. They leave me feeling built up and boosted, like I can do anything.
Andrey is going to make a fantastic father, I just know it. And I am so excited to see that. And I am equally, if not more excited to see a child or two without an earthly father inherit one when they become a part of our family. And through that I know they will come to know their Heavenly Father more deeply and intimately. It's gonna be great.