A Matter of Faith...

We Call Him Our Father…
By Carol Round
”God’s Spirit doesn't make us slaves who are afraid of him. Instead, we become his children and call him our Father.” Romans 8:15 (CEV)

My sister and I had to share our father with other children when we were growing up in southwestern Louisiana.

In our middle class neighborhood, there were two families with single mothers and several fathers on the block who were just too busy for their kids. Although my father’s job took him away from home weeks at a time, he always spent time with my sister and me when he returned.

My Dad also raised Angus cattle on leased land outside the city limits. He would often take us, along with six or more neighborhood kids, to the country where we would help him pick up fallen limbs and brush. When the pile was large enough, Dad would start a fire so we could roast hot dogs and marshmallows.

On several occasions, Dad was a stand-in for one of our friends who needed an escort to a Camp Fire Girls father/daughter banquet. I can remember one family of three sisters whose father had passed away. Dad not only escorted my sister and me to the different Camp Fire events but always offered his other arm to one of these three so she did not feel left out.

When we attended the father/daughter banquets at our local elementary school cafeteria, we brought our own boxed supper. With the assistance of our mothers, we usually prepared fried chicken with the trimmings. Since Dad had two young girls to escort, he also had an extra meal to eat. Because he didn’t want to disappoint either one of us, he managed to do his part in eating from both boxes.

My sister and I were in our teens when we moved to Oklahoma. Dad started a new job that required him to travel. When he came home, however, he always found time for us. As we made new friends and brought them home, Dad became a substitute for many who had no father at home.

When I began to teach school in a rural community in northeastern Oklahoma, I often brought students, who had no father, to meet mine. Although he never officially adopted any of them, my father earned their respect and love. He became the father figure some of them never had.

When my mother passed away almost two years ago, many of those young people attended her funeral. It was a testimony to a father’s love—even if they were not related by blood.

How much greater is our heavenly father’s love? He has adopted us as his children. He has given us the greatest gift of all—an unconditional, sacrificial love that knows no boundaries.

My own father sacrificed for my sister and me. He worked long hours to save money so that we could attend college debt-free and he never expected anything in return except our love.

What does your heavenly father expect from you? To accept that you are His child. Love Him. Praise Him.
(Carol Round is a former Jay High School teacher and is a free lance writer who lives in Claremore)