OUR FATHER
“Our Father,
Who art in Heaven,
Hallowed be Thy Name;
Thy Kingdom come
Thy Will be done
On earth
As it is in Heaven.”
I was so fortunate to have had a dad who loved me, guided me and gave me wise counsel. I’ve often thought about what it would have been like not to have had that good fortune. Could I have understood our Father in Heaven without having an earthly father as an example? How difficult it would be to visualize a Heavenly Father, Who Loves us and Guides us and calls us His Own, if I had no earthly father, growing up, with whom to identify; or I had an abusive one.
My dad was there for me. He made mistakes. We all do. But I never doubted his love or his dedication to his sons. I grew up in a loving home . . . with a mom and dad who fulfilled my every need, but not my every want. At times I thought it unfair that I did not receive what others received; however, my dad worked two jobs while I was growing up and did the best he could. He seldom missed a ball game in which I played. In fact, he would often split his time so he could watch both my brother and I play . . . on different fields and in different leagues. He was there; sometimes even when I didn't want him to be.
My mom and dad allowed me independence. I grew up in the fifties and sixties . . . so I was allowed to ride my bike pretty much everywhere . . . including to ball practice and to games. I rode my bike to my Gethsemane at Double Rock Park often. In fact, I hiked the park all by myself . . . and with friends . . . with no adult supervision. I was trusted to be safe and return home for dinner. I was trusted to ride and to walk anywhere I could play . . . whether it was ball or army. My childhood was a wonderful childhood; but I didn’t get everything I wanted.
Being a great parent does not mean giving your child everything they want. When what I wanted did not match with what my parents could give or what they wanted to give, I didn’t get it. How else would I understand, “Thy Will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.”? If what I want isn’t our Father’s Will, I’m not getting it . . . and it’s for good reason . . . even if I don’t understand the reason. I learned that growing up. I’m not getting everything I ask for. It’s a fact of life.
I know my Heavenly Father as well as I do because I had an earthly father who taught me what parenting and love are all about. I have a leg up on many who have not had that wonderful experience. Love, guidance and good counsel make a good dad . . . not material things that are given. I can easily remember a wonderful, if not perfect dad, and use that memory to magnify the Ideal of our Father, Who art in Heaven. Yes . . . hallowed be Thy Name.
Who art in Heaven,
Hallowed be Thy Name;
Thy Kingdom come
Thy Will be done
On earth
As it is in Heaven.”
I was so fortunate to have had a dad who loved me, guided me and gave me wise counsel. I’ve often thought about what it would have been like not to have had that good fortune. Could I have understood our Father in Heaven without having an earthly father as an example? How difficult it would be to visualize a Heavenly Father, Who Loves us and Guides us and calls us His Own, if I had no earthly father, growing up, with whom to identify; or I had an abusive one.
My dad was there for me. He made mistakes. We all do. But I never doubted his love or his dedication to his sons. I grew up in a loving home . . . with a mom and dad who fulfilled my every need, but not my every want. At times I thought it unfair that I did not receive what others received; however, my dad worked two jobs while I was growing up and did the best he could. He seldom missed a ball game in which I played. In fact, he would often split his time so he could watch both my brother and I play . . . on different fields and in different leagues. He was there; sometimes even when I didn't want him to be.
My mom and dad allowed me independence. I grew up in the fifties and sixties . . . so I was allowed to ride my bike pretty much everywhere . . . including to ball practice and to games. I rode my bike to my Gethsemane at Double Rock Park often. In fact, I hiked the park all by myself . . . and with friends . . . with no adult supervision. I was trusted to be safe and return home for dinner. I was trusted to ride and to walk anywhere I could play . . . whether it was ball or army. My childhood was a wonderful childhood; but I didn’t get everything I wanted.
Being a great parent does not mean giving your child everything they want. When what I wanted did not match with what my parents could give or what they wanted to give, I didn’t get it. How else would I understand, “Thy Will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.”? If what I want isn’t our Father’s Will, I’m not getting it . . . and it’s for good reason . . . even if I don’t understand the reason. I learned that growing up. I’m not getting everything I ask for. It’s a fact of life.
I know my Heavenly Father as well as I do because I had an earthly father who taught me what parenting and love are all about. I have a leg up on many who have not had that wonderful experience. Love, guidance and good counsel make a good dad . . . not material things that are given. I can easily remember a wonderful, if not perfect dad, and use that memory to magnify the Ideal of our Father, Who art in Heaven. Yes . . . hallowed be Thy Name.