When Jesus taught his disciples to pray, he began with the phrase, “Our Father.” Jesus illustrates the forgiveness of God in a story about a father who never gives up on his prodigal son (Luke 15). Scripture often compares the compassion of a father with that of God, as in Psalm 103:13, “As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him.” Paul writes that we are sons of God, and His spirit within us cries out, “Abba,” an Aramaic term for father signifying both intimacy and submission.

Biblical analogies point us to the reality they represent, giving us a taste of something greater to come. I have friends, colleagues, and students who cannot fully grasp the meaning of these verses. I have known people to whom these verses bring pain or confusion. Through no fault of their own, some may never grasp the notion of God as Father on this side of eternity. Maybe one of the greatest gifts a child can get from his father is for these verses to resonate on a deep level, emotionally and spiritually. Thank you for giving me that gift.

Being a father isn’t easy. It’s not a job for the faint of heart. We have children before we really know what we’re getting into, before we understand the full weight of the responsibility. Without good role models, I don’t know how dads function. When I became a father, I had some intuitive sense of what to do, thanks to you. I often feel like a dad to about 650 students at my school, and I would likely feel the weight of that responsibility to be overwhelming were it not for you. They say more lessons are caught than taught, and I have found that to be true. Thank you for all the lessons I caught from you, the ones you taught me, the time you spent with me, the humor you brought to me, and the path you showed me. I love you. Happy Father’s Day.