Happy Father's Day walkers

One of the descriptions of God in Psalms 68: 5a is "a father to the fatherless." Moving through Facebook tonight there were many people I know who remembered  their fathers who passed on. Some spent time with their dads who are still with us. Joe Stowell wrote of his own parenting as, "They craved my time and attention, the provision for basic needs, a love that patiently forgave, and the creation of a safe place for them to grow and mature. It’s a short but very profound list of fatherly duties." It was those things that mattered to his kids. Dads love their kids and provide a safe place for everybody in the family to grow and mature. If we learn to forgive and be gentle and encourage our kids that maybe as good as it gets. Dads come in all shapes and sizes and they are as different from one another as well. Our armor may not be shinny and may have more than a few dents. Perfect no but from what I read most dads were there when it counted.
So happy father's day. I have wrote about Jack, Gordon, Bob, and my own dad, it seems me we see more flaws in our fathers than mothers.  Like George Bailey we often say what is on our hearts late in the game. "Pop, you want a shock? I think you're a great guy. Oh, did you hear that, Annie?" "I heard it.  About time one of you lunkheads said it." In the Field of Dreams what is endearing is a do over to play catch. In Frequency with Dennis Quaid and Jim Caviezel, father and son get to talk in time. Do overs sometimes never happen. For me I take what I have learned and move on to be a dad now. I am secretly in disguise as a grandfather. Most dads arn't Robert Young from Father Knows Best. If you can tell your pop, you want a shock...
I know Father's Day is hard as well. There could be alot of reasons, whether dad is gone or never was there it is good to know we have a father in heaven who loves us and cares. He hears us and provides. He is there and He is not silent as Francis Shaeffer wrote many years ago. Joe Stowell writes, "I find it both fascinating and instructive that when God wanted us to know what He is like, He chose to emphasize His fatherhood...According to Jesus’ prayer, we know that our Father in heaven is available and attentive to us. It is also clear that He provides for us. He forgives us and protects us from evil. http://odb.org/ If parents were less than ideal read this post by Wayne Styles http://www.waynestiles.com/dysfunctional-greeting-cards/#more-288
Why is it s hard to buy a father's day gift, actually it is easy - Father's day gift, take Dad on a walk and tell him, you want a shock...beats socks or underwear anyday.  keep waking