Reflections of the fatherless

Reflections of the fatherless...Abba! Father! John 1:12, Galatians 4:6  Patricia Ann

Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.
John 1:12

And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” ~ Galatians 4:6

Reflections of the fatherless:  Abba! Father!

It has been many years ago now that my earthly father began to openly reject me.  Before that, he just kind of ignored me.  

When God called me into ministry, I was excited.  I couldn't stop talking about my Lord.  He fed me with His Word, with His presence inside of the "new me."  I was changing every day and I knew it was for the better.  I had a joy and an acceptance that I hadn't known before.  The day I stood up and stretched my arms toward Heaven and said, "Here I am Lord,"  I felt Him accept me.  It was like a "poof",  an ignition.   I felt a sudden feeling of anxiety, as I knew I had truly given up my "self" to Himself.   Then, there was a sense of peace and belonging. He began to fill me up to overflowing, while my earthly began to openly reject me and my ministry.

2020 was a year of fatherly loss in our life. 

In October, my earthly father got angry and totally shunned me. Most of the family shunned me as  result.  This is a permanent rejection and shunning that hurt me deeply.  That was the intention. Still, over the years,  I had always held on to hope that one day, he would actually embrace me.  I know in my own God heart that my earthly father's rejection of me is a condition of his own heart.  

In early December, my  father-in-law passed away from a stroke. Instead of allowing time to see if he could recover, the sole decision maker in the family ( not my husband) decided to let him pass. Life support was withdrawn and he was moved to hospice care. 

Waiting several days while someone you love is being starved to death is traumatic.  I believe it is our nature to nurture, to speak life and to believe that God heals, even in the most dire circumstances.  Where there is life, there is hope.  Where there is breath, there is life.

It was so sad to watch and wait and I thought about the fact that my husband was not going to be able to talk to or see his dad ever again, yet I had a father that didn't ever want to see me ever again. 

I know the year 2020 brought  much death. Families separated and divided, not knowing if they would ever see each other again.  Not knowing if they would share a hug or a warm embrace. 

All things virtual is not life.  It is a coldness that resembles life.  We are designed for life, face to face interactions. And this is by God's design. We are designed to share His love.

There are sons and daughters in homes behind closed doors,  in families divided, grown children and aged parents. There are fathers who never wanted their children and there are children whose fathers don't even know they exist. There are fathers who have passed on and father's to be. 

This week I have been thinking about fathers a lot. I've thought about my own earthly father and father-n-law. I've thought about my sons and their earthly father and I have thought about God, our Heavenly Father.  Long before I was rejected by my earthly father, my Father in Heaven knew me intimately. It was He who knit me together in my mother's womb.  It was He who welcomed me into His wonderful loving arms when I accepted His son, Jesus Christ,  as my personal Savior.  As a result, I am a daughter of the best and most loving Father, the One who never rejects and always welcomes me with open arms. 

A question?  Why would a father reject his own child?  No matter what the situation is, a father has a role to be a leader, a protector, a role model. 

The problem?  Absence  from the Father. 

Too many times our earthly father's are absent from The Father.

The truth? Our Father in Heaven created us. He formed us in our mother's womb. He knows every hair on our head.  He counts our tears. He knew us before we were formed in our mother's womb. He has plans to prosper us and not to harm us. 

The world says?  We are just a mistake, an accident. We weren't wanted. We don't belong.

God says?  You are my child. I formed you. I knew you before I formed you. You are here for a purpose. When you talk to me, I listen. I care. I listen for your cry, your voice in song or prayer or your plea.  I am your Father and you are My child. 

God says I love you. I have always loved you and I will love you...unconditionally.  There is nothing that you do or have done that I will not forgive and forget.  I hold no grudges. I choose you, My child. 

And is that just awesome?  Yes. God is awesome!  His love for us is forever faithful and true. We find ourselves wanting more and more of Himself and we desire to tell the world about our Father, about His goodness. 

Our Father has always known, however that our relationship would be tried and tested.  We would suffer rejection, ridicule. mocking, scoffing and and what sometimes can only be described as torment and trauma. 

In this, we identify with our Savior.  

Jesus, too,  was rejected and shunned by man.  He also, for a moment in time, shared in the rejection of His own Father,  as He took the weight of the world onto Himself and hung on the cross at Calvary. He cried out My God, My God, why have thou forsaken me?  Jesus knew, in the days prior to His death, what was to come and even in knowing... when it happened, He felt  complete emptiness in the absence of His Father.  

Jesus suffered and died a painful, emotional shunning and rejection and beating at the hands of man. 

Do you know?  It had to be this way.

He did it for you and me, for the sins of the world that we might be saved by knowing Him, His sacrifice, His pain and ultimately His unconditional love for us all. 

When we accept Jesus into our hearts as our Lord and Savior,  He intercedes for us.  We now have a relationship with our Father in Heaven through acceptance of Jesus Christ as our Lord.  We have a relationship with our Father, the One who loves us the most!

He knows us, He knows our every need and He provides for us.  

I was eight years old when I  accepted Jesus as my Savior.  Looking back, I can see the moments that my Father held me and protected me.

I always knew I was loved.  I was always taken care of.  My needs were met. 

And later in my life, when He called me into ministry,  rejection and shunning  seemed to come from every direction.

In the midst of trials and storms of life, it has been my Father who has continued to give me love, to provide for my needs and to calm my fears. 

In His wonderful provision, I have some amazing friends, whom He has set in place to help me along the way.  

A simple word, a hug, or a guidance pointing me in the right direction, my Father knows my every need.  

And sometimes, it is just the simplicity of the eagle swooping down in front of my car to get my attention, or flying high up in the sky to show me the strength of his wings that reminds me of the His magnificent Glory. 

Isaiah 40:31...but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;

they shall mount up with wings like eagles;

they shall run and not be weary;

they shall walk and not faint.

My prayer for today.  May our hearts know that even though our earthly fathers may walk in darkness, reject us or pass away, there is One who loves us the Most.  As our Father in Heaven calls us unto Himself, may we not fear, but receive all that He has for us. Our Father's promises never fail and His love endures forever and ever.  Let us live fruitfully and joyfully in the days ahead, knowing that our Father has prepared a perfect  place for us in His Kingdom. 

 Love and blessings to all in Jesus name. Amen

a few Scripture references ...

And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” ~ Galatians 4:6

And he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” ~ Mark 14:36

For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” ~ Romans 8:15 

Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.
John 1:12

Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.”
John 14:23

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
James 1:17

Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?
Matthew 26:53

He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?
Romans 8:32

My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?
John 14:2