So, I love my dad..a lot! One reason we have earthly fathers is so we can get a tangible taste of how God is our Father. I know I learn best by examples and experiences. So I get a taste of my heavenly Father through my earthly father.
Here are a few verses from the Bible about God being our Father. How blessed am I that my earthly dad has helped me better understand these verses about my heavenly Father.
“Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” Matthew6:26
My dad is a man that surely goes the extra mile. He sees the little things that need to be done even when he is not required to do them. Growing up, we would mow neighbors’ lawns. Our neighbors just asked for the grass to be cut, but my dad would teach us and show us it is not just cutting the lawn; it is picking up the sticks beforehand, weed-wacking the edges, and blowing off the sidewalks and driveways with the blower. My dad showed by caring how he did his work, how much more he cared about the people he served!
“What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost. ” Matthew 18:12-14
Well, one time I was considered an illegal alien in Mexico, and they would not let me go back to the U.S.A. My poor father got a quick call from me telling him I am trapped and detained at the airport. Looking back I see how this would give my father a heart attack. He was quick to action! He even came up with this pretty sweet plan to come rescue me with his buddies. Luckily after 3 days I was able to return home. But I had no fear because I knew that if my dad had to walk all the way to Mexico to save me He would!
“But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful”. ?Luke 6:35-36
My dad has been a great example of how to love others! A ton of examples flood my head. One time when he was accused of something that he did not do, he just looked at the accuser and instead of defending himself, asked gently for forgiveness for the perceived offense. The accuser’s anger was defused immediately. My dad took the blame when he could have easily proved that he was not guilty, but realized he just needed to love this person and give grace.
“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom”. Luke 12:32
Pretty much everything that belonged to my dad, he let us use. Be it his tools, his mower, his cars, his most valuable things, but most importantly he gave us his time. He spent time with us every morning with devotions to learn about the love of Jesus, and the afternoons whenever I would get tired of school and needed a break I would just run upstairs and sit in my dad’s lap. hmmm, I may still do this.
I remember when I was little, Dad told me that once I graduated from college I would no longer live with them. I was devastated. I thought I would live with my parents my whole life! But my father’s house is always open for me to come to. I never have had to ask if I can come stay. I am always greeted with love and gratefulness that I am there. And it has always been open to my friends as well.
‘For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.” Romans 8:15-16
“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” 1 John 3:1
Whenever I went to a Navigator conference (a Christian organization) and people found out that I was Kent Schellhause daughter it was the best thing ever! Because they loved and respected my dad so much, they loved me! I did nothing, yet because of my dad’s reputation, it filtered down to me. We are God’s children and when I met you I should treat you as a child of the king!
Oh my gosh, getting spanked by Dad was the worst thing in the whole world at the time. But let me just tell you after that discipline I was for sure never going to do whatever I did again. And afterward my dad would always hug me and explain why he did that and it was because he loved me and wanted the best for me.
“Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”Matthew 7:9-11
Well, not going to lie, it a plus to be the baby girl in the family. I do not think I have ever intentionally taken advantage of this but looking back I think I have unintentionally. But my dad is so good at giving me gifts and not only that but surprising me! For example, I will get into my car and the gas tank will be full! Or I will come home and he will take a walk with me and get ice-cream. Or when I was little and he had to travel I could always count on him bringing me back a treasure.
I remember at night when I would lay in bed and my mind would just race with questions, thoughts or worries. Not being able to fall asleep, I would finally get up, stop worrying or wondering and go out to talk to my dad who was on the couch. He was always willing to listen to my questions! Not only that but gave me such wisdom- filled answers by sharing how he had wondered the same things or never thought of that before and then giving me an example of his own life. As soon as we finished our conversations, I was then able to fall asleep right away.
We just have to go to our heavenly Father and talk to him about our thoughts, questions and worries. He will answer, but we have to expect it and also look for ways we don’t always expect it.
Now these are all sweet examples of how my dad has shown me more of God as my Father. And he has done a great job at it but only because he has let God do it through him. Now, I can talk all day about how amazing my earthly father is.
I must say though, I surely have the most wonderful dad I could ask for!
