A large rabbit bumped its way across the street ahead of me as I walked the dog the other morning. Cash and I watched it make its funny zig-zag path in and out of front yards, then back onto the road, grey ears flapping, powerful hind legs pumping.
I thought of my lettuce plants and my neighbour鈥檚 garden. I wondered if Peter Cottontail would soon be helping himself. Most likely he鈥檇 already done that. He did look a bit plump. And I thought of my father.
Rabbits usually bring my thoughts round to Dad. To the puffball he brought home for me as a kid; barely a fistful of downy white fur with pink eyes and black ears. Sam, I named that puff. Dad built Sam a large cage (which the bunny quickly grew into), and over the next few years, my father took great pleasure in the joy I found in that pet. I wish I鈥檇 thanked Dad for that. But I was too young to recognize his true gift鈥攖he selfless love that takes delight in the joy of one鈥檚 children. More delight than in one鈥檚 own pleasures. Not all children are blessed with that kind of parental love.
For the first Father鈥檚 Day in my life, I have no father on earth to greet. Dad passed into the sole care of our Heavenly Father in 2020. I picture him at peace, free from the immobility and loneliness that had gripped him in the half dozen years since Mom went on ahead. He never wanted a mansion, but I pray God gives him a corner in Heaven to farm. A horse or two, a boat for a nearby body of water. And great food 鈥� with no tossed salad 鈥� at mealtimes. He may have enjoyed rabbits, but he never did appreciate what he called 鈥渞abbit food.鈥�
While I can鈥檛 greet Dad this Father鈥檚 Day, I鈥檓 grateful both my children and all six grandchildren are blessed with living fathers they can greet. They already have their own 鈥渇ather stories,鈥� and the collection will keep growing. A sight, a smell, a song, an experience will trigger memories, hopefully more good ones than hard. (No human parent is perfect after all.) They鈥檒l remember, perhaps laugh, then ponder and realize, like I do now, the depth of that father-love.
While not everyone is blessed with a kindly, gift-giving father in life, anyone who loves and follows Christ can be assured of the love of our Father in Heaven. 鈥淪ee how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! John 3:1鈥�
While pondering that, songwriter Stewart Townend penned the words to what has become a classic worship hymn: 鈥淗ow deep the Father's love for us; how vast beyond all measure. That He would give His only Son, to make a wretch His treasure.鈥�
Child of God, you are His treasure. His pleasure. Father鈥檚 Day bring good reason to remember that love most.
