Monday, 06 July 2009
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The Father's love reflected
I’ve been staring at dirty beige walls in my apartment far too long, and though I planned on painting the place from the day I moved in, it was four years before the bee flew up my bottom and I started. I knew if I asked my Dad he would come and help. He had, after all, helped me paint the bathroom twice. But he’s busy, I know; busy with his own company, his own yard and garden, his own father and in-laws… So I determined to do it on my own, and except for borrowing from him all the painting supplies minus the paint, I tried to.
Well, not only is my father wonderful, so is my mother, who knew how I felt about asking Dad for help. Both knew I intended to paint sometime this month, had seen the colors I chose, and they knew I purposed to do the task over the three-day holiday weekend.
Well Friday morning or Thursday night, my dad asked Mom why I hadn’t called him for help yet. Hearing my mother relay the conversation, I had the impression that Dad was somewhat sad I hadn’t asked; and I think that after hearing from her my reasons, he might have been more so.
I guess I just don’t understand the heart of a good father, even though I’ve always had the best example of one. I just don’t always get that a good father will always put his children ahead of everything else, that they want to be asked for help, that they want to share even the mundane hours of our lives.
As I was driving back from the paint store Friday, Dad called me, offered his help, and I eagerly accepted… ’cause I hate painting.
I believe there are mirrors of God’s character everywhere, and I’m blessed God uses my father to be a mirror that reflects an aspect of his love I have the hardest time accepting. I hate to ask for help, hate to admit that I need or could simply use it. I can’t accept that anyone would actually want to do something for me which has no return.
But God does do things like this for his children, and I think he knew before I was born I would have this issue and so he gave me an earthly father who would most clearly reflect the part of God's character I needed to see.
The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 1 John 4:8-11, NASB
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