This is a Love Note written for my Dad. Thank you Daddy for showing me what it truly means to be Fathered on Earth and in Heaven.
It Began With Him
“To the first man I ever loved…”
This is how I started a birthday message to my Dad, for one of his most recent birthdays. I remember being a young girl, coming home from school and having him jump out of random rooms. This was just to scare me, so that he could hug me after. My Dad has always been a prankster and made bringing laughter into our home his mission. But one thing that he was always (and still is) serious about is making sure that his family had what they needed.
Growing up, my Dad worked 3 jobs. He did this because he believed it was his duty to provide for his family so that we would not lack. We may not have had everything, but we always had more than enough and I am so grateful that my Dad placed serving us in this manner of love, above his own comfort and wants. This was the beginning of my experience of being Fathered on Earth and in Heaven.
An Immeasurable Love
“To the last man that will love me…”
My Dad has surely set the bar high. His consistent, loving-kindness, protection and sincerity of heart
towards my Mum has been remarkable to observe. I can see without a shadow of a doubt, that he
chose my Mum and made it a point to still explicitly choose her each day, in all seasons, no matter the difficulties that life presented them with. Intentional and enduring. Gentle. Patient. Humble. These are all of the words that my Mum uses to describe her ongoing experience of my Dad to this day; and being present to witness this, shapes my perception of a healthy love and encourages an even greater understanding of God’s perfect love towards me.
He’s My Best Friend
These words have consistently echoed from my Mum throughout the years. My Dad’s expression of love towards her has set my own expectation of romantic love very high. Although I do not require my own love to completely reflect that of my Mum and Dad’s (God will give me my own love-story), it is surely one that has served as a great example. See the thing is, in being a good Father, the way in which you love the Mother of your children acts as a barometer of how ‘great’ of a Dad you are holistically.
I saw (and still see) my Dad support my Mum, esteem her, be gentle with her, make peace with her and forsake all others as he still chooses her. He has remained faithful to his vows – both in deed and in heart – and because I have seen this great example firsthand, I have the faith that the same will be true for me and mine one day soon.
Thank you Daddy for loving and treating Mummy righteously. You will never know what that has done for me as a daughter and I appreciate you for it.
Fathered on Earth and in Heaven
“He calls me Princess…”
Yes, even at my big age of thirty-something, my Dad still calls me Princess and you know what… I LOVE it! Afterall, I came from him. A king in every right and I am his precious daughter. This truth I know and believe with my whole heart, not only because the intentional love of my earthly Dad affirms this truth, but because it mirrors the love of my Heavenly Father. The ultimate King… Jesus.
I learned to sit at the feet of Abba, when my own Dad showed me that I could approach him with
every worry.
I learned to trust the integrity of El Hanne’eman; each time I witnessed my Dad faithfully deliver on the things he had promised.
I learned to accept that El Roi sees me, each time my Dad noticed changes in me good or bad and
loved me through it.
Most of all, I learned to trust the stewardship of Jehovah Ra’ah each time my Dad made wise decisions for his family, shepherding us in peace of heart and safety.
If my earthly Father can do and be all of these things, then how much more my Heavenly Father?
Happy Father’s Day Daddy!
My Dad, in his imperfect human nature, has inevitably made mistakes along the way and will continue to do so. However, if all I have received from him thus far, is just a fragment of the love that God has for me, then being a Daughter of The King is indeed an honour. It is a privilege that I will never be able to measure the true depth of.
So, on this Father’s Day, I honour my Dad. I honour every Dad and Dad-to-be, that is raising a Princess. Thank you for completing the intended design and giving us a portion of Heaven on Earth.
Your love is needed.
Your presence is needed.
You are needed.
I love you x
Signed – A Forever Daddy’s Girl.
Studying The Names of God
Note: If you would like to study the names of God and their meaning, I recommend using the devotionals and study guides via the YouVersion Bible App. I personally studied this topic a while back using The Names of God – A 14 Day Devotional From Rose Publishers.
