I believe it’s very important to sit and reflect on what you have learned in life and what you are thankful for. While being on the Race, I have learned a lot about being a true daughter of God. I always knew I was a daughter to my parents, but I never understood the importance of being a daughter of Christ. When I sat and reflected about this concept, I realized my earthly father showed me characteristics of God as our Father without me noticing. I believe my dad was (and still is) able to show me characteristics of our Heavenly Father because he understands who he is in Christ and how Christ wants him to live as a father on earth.
With that being said, I wanted to write a letter to my earthly father thanking him for the way he raised me which, while on the Race, I have learned is very similar to our Heavenly Father. My hope is that as you read through this, you are able to realize and reflect on people in your life that have shown you different characteristics of Christ.
After reading this letter, I’d love to hear your thoughts, who you thought of, and what you’ve learned about the characteristics of Christ. Thanks again for all your support and continuing to pray for me while on this journey. :):):)
Dear Dad,
Thank you for always being there for me. You are there in the good times and in the bad times. You are there in the laughable moments and the cry-able moments. You are there when I know I need you and when I don’t know I need you. You are always there and you always have been. Thank you for always being there.
While being on the Race, I’ve become so aware of all the ways you’ve been an amazing father to me. I have become aware of all the ways you showed me our true Father’s characteristics. Because of this, I have also grown a lot into truly knowing and understanding I am a true daughter of our Heavenly Father.
When I come to you and express mistakes, you sit and talk about it with me. You let me explain my thinking and then walk through it with me. You show little, if any, frustration with me, only complete understanding. You value my opinion and thoughts. If I have clouded judgement of something, you don’t make fun of me, but rather you help bring clarity to the situation through understanding. You are a father of understanding just like our Heavenly Father. When I struggle to really know and accept that our Heavenly Father understands without limits, I sometimes think of situations where you were understanding even when I didn’t think I deserved to be understood. Because you showed me understanding through out my childhood, I have better been able to accept that my Heavenly Father had no limit to His understanding. Thank you for helping me learn this concept of an understanding father.
Isaiah 40:28 “Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator for the whole earth. He never becomes faint or weary; there is no limit to his understanding.” CSB
When I need to just sit and talk, you show up and listen. I don’t ever question if you will listen to me. You’ll listen to me tell a joke, talk about a hard situation, reminisce on something, and so much more. Your always there for me to talk to with open ears. While on the Race, I have learned I can talk to my Heavenly Father just like I talk to you: about absolutely anything. He will always listen. I am grateful I have an earthly father like you who shows me how I can talk to my Heavenly Father. Thank you for showing me you’re always there to listen.
Isaiah 65:24 “Even before they call, I will answer; while they are still speaking, I will hear.” CSB
When I come to you with a questions about a decision I need to make, you sit and talk it out with me. No matter the situation, you help me find the best decision. You never force a decision on me, but just give me advice as to what you think is right. Then you let me choose on my own. This is very similar as to how our Father treats His children. God is a Father who abundantly gives advice, but never forces a decision upon us. He lets us talk it out with Him and go back and forth. We both bring points to the table and in the end, it is our decision as to what to pick. Our Heavenly Father always gives us advice and pushes us in the right direction, but never forces it upon us. You raised me this same way and I am thankful for this because I know I can always go to my Heavenly Father in any situation I am seeking advice and He will kindly walk me through it. Thank you for being an earthly father who shows advice giving like our Heavenly Father.
Matthew 7:8 “For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be open.” NIV
When I have a bad day and need comfort, you embrace me in a hug. I might’ve not let it last for long, but the short time of embrace always makes me feel better. You brought me comfort in times of hurt and stress. I can’t think of a time you weren’t there to comfort me when I needed it, which is exactly what our Heavenly Father does. I have grown in understanding of our Father’s true unending comfort because I have received comfort from Him through you on earth. Thank you for showing me comfort as my earthly father in ways my Heavenly Father does every single day.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4 “Praise be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” NIV
When I blow up after a bad conversation and speak negative words to you, you wait and accept my apology when I come back. You show me mercy in times that I should have deserved punishment. You helped me learn from my mistakes, but you give me mercy and endless chances to try again. Our Heavenly Father is just like that. He is a Father of never ending mercy and forgiveness. He loves his children so much that He always shows us compassion and forgiveness in times that could have deserved punishment. Dad, thank you for showing me mercy throughout my life. Because of this, I understand more deeply that my Heavenly Father will always show me mercy no matter how big of a mistake I think I made.
Ephesians 2:4 “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us.” CSB
While looking at all of these, I noticed on overlapping theme: love. Dad, no matter the situation, you always always show me love. You show me love because you are in line with what God wants you to be and God is full of love. As a Father, he loves us unconditionally, more than we can ever know. Through your love to me as my earthly father, I have grown a huge understanding for how much my Heavenly Father loves me. He will love me unconditionally, no matter the circumstance, even when I fail a lot, and when life is going really well. He is going to love me through it all and His love will never waver. Because of the love you show me here on earth, I better understand the love our Heavenly Father has for all of us. Thank you for showing me love like my Heavenly Father.
Joel 2:13 “Tear your hearts, not just your clothes, and return to the Lord your God. For He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in faithful love, and relents from sending disaster.” CSB
Dad, these are just a few of the ways that you have shown me characteristics of my Heavenly Father. Thank you for treating me so well and raising me as a daughter who understands the love you have for me, but even more importantly, I fully understand the love my Heavenly Father has for me. Thank you for being a father on earth that fathers like our Heavenly Father. I love you for that and won’t ever be able to fully express that love to you. Thank you dad.
Your daughter,
Paige
