6.18.2017

Happy Father's Day

A few months ago as my husband and I planned out our summer itinerary, I said a sentence with such a flow that it shocked me for a moment and I then found myself agreeing with it..”You decide what you want to do on Father’s Day and we will do that, because I will not be celebrating it.”

Here we are on Father’s Day and I still feel the same way. For the first time since I could remember I am not nostalgic on this day. I am not avoiding social media, reminiscing, or my family. I am embracing. 

*stop and smile at what I just realized God has done*

Ecclesiastes 3:5 (NKJV)
A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

God gave me this verse around the same time I said that shocking sentence and I have prayed ever sense of what that could possibly mean. In the mean time, God has given me opportunities to focus on embracing, and has reminded me that I don’t have to embrace. 

If you are new to my story let me give you a short recap You have probably gathered by now that if I am not celebrating Father’s Day then that must mean I don’t have a father. You would be correct, I don’t have an earthly father - not biologically at least. Mine died when I was the young age of six, making August 19th, 1999 my day of grace. Day of grace, Jenn? Meaning, from that day satan has tried to use this void in my life to destroy me. However, God’s unfailing grace has defeated satan’s plan over and over and over and over… again… you get it. 

This past year God has shown His glory and His growth in my life. As I recently explained to a friend; it’s a supernatural growth. I don’t know how to describe it to you. It’s just GOD. 

I messaged a few friends last night and let them know that for once I was not depressed that Father’s Day is here. I didn’t want them to feel concerned for me; sending me comforting messages throughout the day.  I am fine and here’s why despite how cliche it is… this year of growth has taught me that I do have a Father who loves, accepts, and yearns to see me grow. 

Well duh, Jenn! God is our Almighty God. He is a Good, Good Father… yes, and that song is playing as I type….  but I had grown numb to Who He Is. I had lost that tangible joy in my life. Sorry, not lost, misplaced. I let other events, people, and whatever else take that special place in my heart. I let other things fill His void; you know that one precious thing He had been chasing my heart for all of this time?

*stopping to smile again*  

A few days ago I researched growth in the bible and came across this passage:
Hebrews 6 (NLT)
So let us stop going over the basic teachings about Christ again and again. Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding. Surely we don’t need to start again with the fundamental importance of repenting from evil deeds and placing our faith in God. You don’t need further instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgement. And so, God willing, we will move forward to further understanding. 

I don’t know about you, but I find this really refreshing! Thankfully, I am state-side for the summer with rejuvenation in mind. But, I grew up with this personal mindset to always keep myself in such a “place” that I could run back to my mentors for instruction. Running back? What about running forward? My Father wants me to run to growth, to Him! His Word tells us over and over (1 Cor 9,  2 Tim 2, John 20, 2 Chr 23…).

My Father doesn’t want me running back to the sadness and mourning of what I missed, or what my Daddy missed. My God wants me to embrace what I have been given. I am to embrace the strength, wisdom, and the knowledge that I am no fatherless being. In fact, God has given me fathers in abundance! 

*stopping to laugh at God’s work* 

My Father, like all, longs to hear me giggle with excitement and so He chooses moments like now to nurture just that. He LIVES for this! 

Readers everywhere, have an amazing Father’s Day! Embrace the Father that you still get to talk to, listen to, the One who can still comfort you, and the One who loves giving you moments of laughter.