Sharing My Parents

I have always perceived God as a kind and understanding father who is always there for me. A father who has always provided what is best for me - who tirelessly searches for me when I lose my way, who always waits for me with open arms always ready to forgive and always ready to love. He never runs out of love for me, I am special to Him just the way I am. He guides me through life silently, guiding me to the right path and blessing me abundantly.

I didn't realize that other people may have trouble perceiving God as a loving father - because they never had a loving father on earth. I read this conclusion in an article today and was surprised to have not thought about it before.

My father is a very kind and gentle man. He makes it a point to spend time with us - and lets us know that he is always there for us with his actions more than his words. He is slow to anger - always ready to forgive. He is patient and understanding - as he teaches us the difference between right and wrong - how to live by Jesus' example. He is very protective and very trusting - he believes in us.

I have always taken it for granted that the reason it is easy for me to have a father-daughter relationship with God is because I have such a great father. And the reason I can relate to Mary in a mother-daughter relationship is because I have a very spiritual mother.

In the article I read, the daughter talks about sharing her earthly father to help her congregation realize what it's like to have a good and loving father - just in case they never had a father like that. When she said the word, sharing, I was reminded of a different kind of sharing - more than just sharing how good my parents are and how parents should be by talking about them with others.

I shared my mother and father with our ministry for as long as I can remember. My sisters and I learned to share our quality time with our parents with other people who may need their help. It was easiest for me, I think - because I was already old enough to understand what the ministry is all about when they became very active in it. It was a little more difficult to explain to my baby sister who was too young to understand at the time why our parents could not take her out on weekends all the time - or why our father had to go out of town for long periods of time.

As I grew I became part of my parents' ministry, my faith grew and strengthened because I learned from them through example. I know I am blessed partly because of how faithful my parents have been all these years, they pray for me and God blesses me (however unworthy I am). And my parents blesses me with people who love me - if only because I was willing to share my parents with them. My parents have taught many people by example, they have guided them through crises and problems and they have loved many who didn't have parents to love them.

I have helped bless others by sharing my parents with them. How many daughters can claim that? How many daughters have been blessed with the kind of parents I am blessed with? I thank God every day for them and try to let them know how much I love them every chance I get.

Cherish your parents. They are blessings from God. They are representations of our heavenly father - their love and guidance sees us through long after we claim to be independent.