A Father's Love

-guest post by Mike Cala

I have three amazing, wonderful and loving teenagers.

However . . . they drive me crazy! They infuriate me! They have in the past reduced me to a red-faced, spittle flying, near epileptic, quivering mass of speechless astonishment/bewilderment with their antics. I have clutched my chest in near-apoplectic fits on more than one occasion. I have a bald spot on the front of my head from incessantly banging it against the wall!

They bicker.

They complain.

They fight.

They seem to possess an endless and very creative supply of reasons and excuses as to why it is impossible for them to complete the smallest task or chore they were given. And they have been kind enough to inform me that apparently, I don’t know anything. The eye rolls and head shakes I receive from them are proof of that. It seems my working knowledge of life is severely limited and archaic – they on the other hand, have solved all of mankind’s problems and have the answers to all of life’s complex questions and deep mysteries . . . I mean, I know I’m no SuperDad, but really?

But I so love them! I often wonder if they realize just how much they are loved - how much and how often I have sacrificed for them? Do they know that I would do anything for them? That I live for them and that I would die for them? That all I want for them is to be safe, happy and if possible, to live a life that is even better and more successful than mine?

Do they know how much I love them? I often think that they don’t. Or can’t. When I tell them “No, you can’t do that!” or “No way you’re going over there!” it’s because I want them safe. I want them happy. I want them to enjoy their lives. I would rather have my child furious, yelling at me and slamming the bedroom door . . . but safe at home. I’ll even endure a couple of shouts of “I-hate-you!” if it means that my decision will ensure his or her safety and well-being. I set rules to keep them out of bad situations. I deny them so that they will not have to experience the consequences of poor decisions. But they can’t see that – they only see me wrecking their fun, messing up their plans, making them look bad in front of their friends . . . they can’t see the love. They don’t see the heartache I feel when they are forced to deal with the results of a poor or mistaken choice. They don’t know of the silent prayers uttered on their behalf day in and day out. They simply are unable to see the love I hold for them.

Do we see the Father’s love for us? Do we understand how much He has done for us and how much He is willing to do for us? Are we intimate with the Father to the point that we are constantly aware of the endless, all-encompassing flood of love He pours out to us? Or are we like children, focused on what we didn’t get and don’t have, angry at being denied and told “No”?

And I ask Him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you'll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ's love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God.
Ephesians 3:17b-19 (The Message)