Father’s Day

My son’s hockey club recently held its end-of-season awards ceremony. It was my first time attending one, and I was curious to see how the evening would unfold. Each age group would receive three awards: Player’s Player, Coach’s Player and Most Improved Player.

I wondered whether three awards per age group would ever be enough. With only Inevitably, many children would be left out, without recognition. Therefore, the choice will be tricky. However, I also knew that, inevitably, our son wouldn’t stand much of a chance, it was his first season, after all.

As expected, our son did not receive an award.

What I didn’t see coming, was the uncomfortable feeling in the pit of my stomach.

I suppose that, as a parent, there’s always a part of you that secretly hopes. To be completely honest with you: I was feeling disappointed, and I felt sorry for my son, whose serious face said it all. I couldn’t stop thinking about it for the next few days.

I wondered why, deep down, I would have wanted my son to receive an award.

I’m sure I wasn’t the only parent who felt that way. 

We know what is best for our children. We want what is best for our children. And we think better for our children, than anyone else.

If we would have been on the awards panel, we might have been swayed by our emotions. We might also have been inclined to prioritise decisions made from a parental perspective over those made from a coaching or a teaching perspective. We might have been tempted to honour family commitment over any other allegiance, whether to a team, a class or a group. Or our devotion might have come before performance. We believe that what compels us is not awards or success, but something more profound and authentic.

We want to call it love.

After all, it is only a parent’s love.

Yes, we are biased.

This realisation compels me towards a Higher love. A love that is above us. A love that is stronger. I am reminded of a Love that is stronger than death, unyielding as the grave, and as fierce as a blazing fire or a mighty flame.

A crazy Love: that of a Father in Heaven. 

He does not play favourites, favours achievement or status. He is perfectly just, yet perfectly loving. In the midst of the crowds, He sees me. He singles me out and says, “You are mine”.

He hides me in the shadow of his wings, and towers over me like a mighty fortress. He is with me like a mighty warrior, and prepares a table for me in the presence of my enemies.

I can call Him Abba, Daddy, He hears me and delights when I call out to Him, rejoicing in answering me and giving me the desires of my heart. 

A Father’s love.

There is plenty to celebrate on Father’s Day.

As parents, we can only ever love imperfectly. But we can look up to a Father who is Perfect. He chooses us not because of our performance, nor because we deserve it, nor because we are better than others. He chooses us just because.

His love is strong, secure and eternal. 

A Father’s love.