We all do at some time or another. In a perfect world, our fathers would always be knights in shining armor, rescue us when we need it, and never let us down. We have a certain expectation for the way our relationship with our fathers should be. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Most of the women I know are or have been hurt, let down, or just plain angry with and at their fathers. My heart breaks as I reflect on their stories of betrayal and pain. Addictions, abuse, affairs, divorce, abandonment...the list is long and the hurts are deep.
So what's so hazardous about these expectations?
Expectation:
1. the act or the state of expecting: to wait in expectation
2. the act or state of looking forward or anticipating
To wait in expectation.
Is it normal to expect certain things of our fathers? Absolutely.
Is it always fair? Not even close.
What comes to mind when you think of what you expect out of a father?
To show us what it is like to be somebody's favorite.
To make the complex simple and the painful bearable.
To join you on your journey when you are too afraid to walk alone.
To tell you truthfully that you are the most beautiful of all.
To teach you that you can forgive more than once.
To show you how it feels to be loved unselfishly.
To learn what we should expect from a husband.
To hold us as we cry.
To teach us that a man's strength is not the force of his hand or his voice, but the kindness of his heart.
To set a moral standard for her.
To show her that true love is unconditional.
A daughter needs a father who will let her know that while she may not be the center of someone else's world, she is the center of His.
How do those sound to you? What you want and expected? What your father didn't or couldn't give to you? If that's your situation...it can be easy to project our feelings about our earthly father onto our heavenly Father. If we have had issues with our fathers here on earth, sometimes we can think that our heavenly Father will turn out the same.
But God is not like our dad. He won't let us down or disappoint. We need to constantly be reminded of the character of God through His word.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life...John 3:16
He loves us that much. And wants to share that love with you. He longs to show you that you are His favorite. That He will always walk with you and never leave you alone. He thinks you are beautiful and yearns for you to believe it. He wants to comfort your soul.
A daughter needs a Father who will let her know that while she may not be the center of someone else's world, she is the center of His.
You...exactly where you are right now...however your hair looks...with dishes in the sink...with the thoughts of temptations in your head...are the center of His heart.
So what's so hazardous about these expectations?
Expectation:
1. the act or the state of expecting: to wait in expectation
2. the act or state of looking forward or anticipating
To wait in expectation.
Is it normal to expect certain things of our fathers? Absolutely.
Is it always fair? Not even close.
What comes to mind when you think of what you expect out of a father?
To show us what it is like to be somebody's favorite.
To make the complex simple and the painful bearable.
To join you on your journey when you are too afraid to walk alone.
To tell you truthfully that you are the most beautiful of all.
To teach you that you can forgive more than once.
To show you how it feels to be loved unselfishly.
To learn what we should expect from a husband.
To hold us as we cry.
To teach us that a man's strength is not the force of his hand or his voice, but the kindness of his heart.
To set a moral standard for her.
To show her that true love is unconditional.
A daughter needs a father who will let her know that while she may not be the center of someone else's world, she is the center of His.
How do those sound to you? What you want and expected? What your father didn't or couldn't give to you? If that's your situation...it can be easy to project our feelings about our earthly father onto our heavenly Father. If we have had issues with our fathers here on earth, sometimes we can think that our heavenly Father will turn out the same.
But God is not like our dad. He won't let us down or disappoint. We need to constantly be reminded of the character of God through His word.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life...John 3:16
He loves us that much. And wants to share that love with you. He longs to show you that you are His favorite. That He will always walk with you and never leave you alone. He thinks you are beautiful and yearns for you to believe it. He wants to comfort your soul.
A daughter needs a Father who will let her know that while she may not be the center of someone else's world, she is the center of His.
You...exactly where you are right now...however your hair looks...with dishes in the sink...with the thoughts of temptations in your head...are the center of His heart.
You are the center of His heart.
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