A Father Spends Time

A story I read recently highlighted important lessons about being a father. Those lessons go beyond the human realm and also teach us about our Heavenly Father.

I recently read a story by a writer named Bettie Youngs, who grew up on a farm in Iowa. In the story, she described the difficulties of caring for livestock in the bitterest parts of winter. Farming for her, and throughout the ages for many, was a family enterprise. While everyone had a task or a part to play, it was a truism that everyone worked together to make sure all chores were taken care of. The family worked as a unit to accomplish all of the tasks.

What struck me most were her comments about her father. He sounds like a man I’d enjoy meeting and getting to know. He and her mother had been married more than 50 years and were the type of people who formed the backbone of their small community.

One father’s example

She described her father’s tireless work ethic and strength. He always worked to make sure the animals, machinery and crops were cared for and thriving, no matter the time or how little sleep he’d had. She described his personal ethics and character. Even though their farm abounded with wildlife (like deer, pheasant and quail) that sometimes did damage to crops, he would never hunt out of season.

She also described his love and devotion to his family. She was one of six children, and it seems every one of them secretly believed he or she was his favorite child! That is truly high praise for a father! I only wish more children would be able to say that.

But perhaps the most touching part of her story was when she described how much she knew about her father. From all the time they spent working together, she got to know him. Her father spent a great deal of time with her and her siblings.

She went on to say how sad it is that the focus of many counseling groups or individual counseling sessions involves trying to deal with living life in the absence of a father. Some know who their father is, but have spent little positive time with him. Others grow up not even knowing their father. Both are very sad commentaries on how far our culture and society have declined.

The author’s point is clear: There is no substitute for time spent together.

The importance of time

Many, like me, are past the point of raising young children. We are now watching our grown children make their own ways in life. We may wish we’d known and focused more on some of these things when our children were little, but we can’t turn back the clock.

We can, however, work to make changes even now, as we have opportunity. There are still occasions to spend time with our children and grandchildren. There are still chances to let them get to know us and, hopefully, have a positive influence on their lives through our examples.

And there is another side to this story too—one the author didn’t comment on or perhaps didn’t understand herself: Not only does the father (or mother) have to spend the time and effort to teach the child, but the child must be open to and willing to watch, listen and learn from the parent.

Our Heavenly Father

We just celebrated Father’s Day, but these lessons are important at all times. The greatest lesson is that we all have a perfect Father in the third heaven. His strength of character, His tireless efforts, His personal character and His love for His family are beyond our comprehension. He is never too busy to listen to our prayers or to talk to us through Bible study. Deficiencies in our relationship are always due to us, not Him.

Our Creator loves us more than any human father could (Psalm 17:8; 91:4; Hebrews 13:5). There is no need for us ever to feel that we don’t really know our Father—because everything He is and everything He stands for is clearly laid out for us in His Word. And through the power of His Holy Spirit, He will help us see and emulate His righteous character.

The only question is whether we’ll make the effort to spend the time growing closer to Him.

For more insight into fatherhood, read “A Father’s Influence.”