I Am Your Father

" I will proclaim the LORD’s decree: He said to me, “You are my son; today I have become your father." Psalm 2:7 "Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me." Psalm 27:10
     This is an issue that breaks my heart; this is something that doesn't necessarily "ruffle my feathers" but I get very, very passionate about this.  We all know the importance to our parents here on this earth; for the first few years of our lives they're God to us.  They're the biggest and strongest people we know, they provide for us and they protect us.  The impact of our parents on our lives are so pivotal for our development and for who we become in our lives.  Do you follow me?
     Do you ever wonder why God refers to Himself as "Father?"  Since sin entered the world, fathers are what the enemy pays particular attention to.  The father is the head of the household, the leader and the protector.  (NOT BECAUSE MEN ARE ANY BETTER!!  It's how God set it up, no other reason truly needed.)  Since then, fathers have been estranged, attacked, lead astray, corrupted and attacked non stop leaving a wake of destruction for their families.  Not sure how many times I've seen, girls in particular, young people looking to relationships to fill the void of that love and affection that their fathers didn't fill. 
     Hear me, though: this isn't a cop-out to blame your dad for all of your issues; they're human just like us who make mistakes.  It's good to realize where our insecurities come from so that God can fill those and fulfill our needs, whichever they may be.  It's good to recognize where our hurts and hang-ups come from and to acknowledge the fact that they are there and not to run and hide when they arise.  Healing doesn't exist when there is no pain-- why else would we need healing if there was no hurt?
     I recognize that there are many boys who walk around in man suits.  It's such a shame that so many men of this age are really just boys and have no right to call themselves men.  Do men leave their wives and kids for another woman?  Does a real man, leader, husband place his own wants and desires over his family's?  Does Christ?  We men are told to love our wives as He loves the church and gave Himself up for the church.  There are no mitigating circumstances that justify or excuse a husband/father to forsake his family and there isn't any good reason.  The lasting effects are drastic and leave a ripple affect in the lives of his kids.  If their father left them, then won't God, our heavenly Father, leave us too?
     But you know, through all of our pains and all of our struggles and pains, we have one Constant in our lives.  And that is our heavenly Father.  He never leaves us nor forsakes us and is always true to His word.  Don't you know that He wants to be your Father?  He will take you for all that you are, no matter the hurts, no matter the pains!  He doesn't love you "in spite" of them; He loves you through them!  "In spite of" implies not full acceptance and He takes us for all that we are.  It breaks His heart when He sees His children tossed aside and scarred and beaten.  Don't you know He wants to take your burdens?  He is Father to the fatherless and is near to the broken hearted.  He loves you.
     God says to you, "I am your Father.  I won't leave you, nor will I cast you aside for something else.  I love you for all that you are and I am proud of you.  Come to Me."