I Have Two Fathers in Heaven

If my Dad were here on earth today, he would be turning 93 years old. Fact is, he is now one of two fathers I have in Heaven. Because of him, my heart has been fully persuaded that both he and my heavenly father absolutely adore me. It is not because he never made a mistake or lost his temper with me. He trusted a perfect father to cover him in his parenting of me and to fill in the gaps. That amazing love has covered a multitude of shortfalls and continues to ground my life. I miss you Dad. I love you forever. Your fathering lives on through my mothering of many. Happy Birthday.

So today is my Daddy’s birthday. It comes two days after my own. He told me more than once that throughout his life he had always wanted a daughter. During my mother’s pregnancy with me he told everyone he knew that he was sure the baby was a girl. When I arrived in the early morning hours two days before his own celebration, he felt he had received the best gift ever. Now that will make a daughter feel special indeed. It will also do wonders for her in approaching her heavenly Papa.

Maybe that is why this year I heard something extraordinary as I lay in bed in late evening, falling asleep on my birthday’s eve. Tender thoughts and impressions were being spoken and reaching out to me on the inside. “You know how expectant parents have hopes and dreams for their children? I always had dreams and hopes for you before I ever created you. The dreams were about you and for you, a very wide array of them. While I was creating you, the dreams were there with you. My joy is in watching you, living in/with you and seeing my dreams for you fulfilled.”

I was made aware that sixty-eight years ago when I was birthed, purposes, plans and dreams were set into motion in me and for me and on my behalf. I could sense their movement and continuing power in my life. It made me want to continue my life’s journey with new vigor, inspiration and renewed purpose. I felt like I was carrying a kind of torch or baton for my generation’s leg of the life relay. My earthly Dad handed it to me at his heavenly homegoing so that I could run into my heavenly Papa’s arms at the end of my own earthly trek.I was very aware those thoughts and feelings did not originate from me and I am forever changed by them.

So, dear Dad, I love you forever. I miss you every day but your birthday is a significant day of inspiration for me. You make me want to finish strong. You make me want to be fearless and excellent in every way. Most of all, you paved the way for me to know the adoration of my heavenly Daddy, my Abba. I may have been your birthday gift, but that is the greatest gift you ever gave me.

Thank-you, Dad. Happy Birthday.