“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you.” – John 15:9
For the chorus to his song “A Father’s Love” country singer George Strait wrote these words:
“Let me tell you a secret, about a father’s love
A secret that my daddy said was just between us
He said, daddies don’t just love their children every now and then
It’s a love without end, Amen!”
Of all the responsibilities I have undertaken in my lifetime none has been greater, more important, more intense, demanding, challenging, complex and dynamic, and at times more frightening and frustrating than being a daddy, yet nothing has been more fulfilling and rewarding. And in the end it may be the only job I’ll ever have that really matters.
It matters for two reasons. One is that as a daddy I became responsible for the wellbeing and development of my children, to love, teach, nurture, protect and provide for them. How seriously I accepted that responsibility has been up to me. The other reason, though, is the wisdom I have gained by being a daddy; what I have learned about life and love and relationships, and especially the insight it has provided in understanding God’s love for us. In experiencing the unconditional love I have for my children – in knowing that nothing they have done or can do will change or diminish my love for them – gives me a glimpse into how much God loves each of us. It may be the closest we can ever come to walking in God’s shoes.
It matters that I understand God’s love so that my children experience it and understand it too. Ultimately it will be my legacy, as it will be theirs.
“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you.” It’s a love without end, Amen!