Father’s Day

Father’s Day is a hard day for me each year these past five years. 

Not because of my Father….I am one of those lucky women who, from birth, didn’t have a Father, but a Daddy.  From head to toe, fingertip to fingertip, I had a Daddy who I love and adore and who loves and adores me.  I am blessed.  For my fifty-three years, it has been this way.  I love my Daddy with all of my heart because he pointed me to my ultimate Father oh so many years ago and he took a humble second seat thus encouraging me to sit front seat with God.

It’s my children’s father and their relationship with him which causes my heart to ache and break.  

Even this morning, waking up at 4am because sorrow roles down my face all damp and wet and sad.  

The tears come for what is not…. but what, I wish with all my heart would be… between my children and their dad.  And, for my part in where things are and for my lack of part in how things are and my ability to witness from a far but not to be able to make healed.

God in His mercy has brought me to understand that a mother can point her children to Him, and she can point her children to him, both heavenly and earthly father, but a mother cannot make them take hold and grasp  

The reaching must come from them

Led by him

And, made whole by HIM

I long ago took responsibility for my part, broken heart shattered into a million little pieces laying raw and bleeding all over the floor of our family home.  I carry my part for the balance of my days.  It is the greatest weight I carry.

And, what this world does not tell you is that broken family may heal in all the million broken places, but it’s a broken that stays with you in a holy way which you and even more importantly, your children, will forever carry and even though the load will lighten, it remains.

And, this is where God teaches me hope, and forgiveness, and humble seeking of all that is holy mercy

So, as we head into this week of Father’s day, I ask God, often….even into the wee hours of the morning, what can I do?

How can I point my children to him?

And, to HIM?

And, He keeps whispering into my heart…..

LOVE

You can point them to Me when you point them to him….and you can encourage what I teach in your favorite verse, one you loved since you were little….

You give your children to Me

You lift your children’s father to me through prayer

And, that is all

That is all that you can do

So, that is what I will do

And, to all mothers, some who like me are no longer married to the father of our children….

Isn’t that the very thing we can do? We should do?

Pray for the father of our children.  Pull from our hearts all the tender care and compassion and love we had for him when we made them?

I can

I will

It’s such a little thing we can do and yet, it is everything…

Because, when given into the hands of our Father….it’s a big thing because God can take the little in us and use it to His huge thing

Of mercy

And grace

Forgiveness

And love

And, truth….

If we love our children as we say we do

If we do what we do because we want what’s best for our children

Won’t we always first lift their father to the FATHER?

And lay aside ourselves?

I can

I will

For the balance of my days, when Father’s day makes its way to us, and really, 

Aren't all days Father's Day....father's day?

I will lift up the father of my children

To the Father of all children

And, then, I will stand aside and beside 

My Holy Father

In joyful anticipation

In prayful hope

Blessings to all of our fathers on Father’s Day

Lesa

You may reside at your own address, but you’ll always live in our home and hearts

My daughter….you move out in a few days to your own address.  You are old enough.  You are wise enough.  You are ready.  It took you and I a little longer to get ready than it does for some…

and, I am grateful for every single extra minute I have had with you in our home.  Not a moment was wasted….it was all for a purpose.  

And, I am grateful.

I’ve always encouraged you that when you leave our family’s home, to go with our blessing. 

And, that is what you are doing.

So, go….

With your mother’s blessing

With your mother’s prayers

With your mother’s heart

And, with the blessing of your Ladder and your brothers, your grandparents, your aunts and uncles, cousins and friends….

Because you are ready…..as ready as you can be on your own

And, as you go

Take God with you…..

Take His presence, His covering of you, His love for you

And, walk Him purposefully into your own, personal, new home

Ask Him to reside within the walls of your apartment.  Ask Him to bless the floors, walls, windows and doors of your home.  Ask Him to cover your new living space with His protection

And His blessings

On purpose

We have seen in this life what it is like to not be purposeful in making God the center of our home

And, we have seen what it is like when He is

Don’t settle for anything less

Than God in your center

And then dream

“Baby, dream Big dreams….and, take Jesus with you, because when Jesus lives in your dreams, your dreams will live”

~Eva Self

So go….

With my blessings

And, more importantly, with God

I love you as only your Mama can,

Mama