Dad's Day: Earthly Memories Fade, Father's Forgiveness Endures

Jesus told the story of a man who owed someone a lot of money but just couldn't pay it. The man who was owed the debt completely forgave the debtor. The man who was forgiven then turned to a third man -- who owed him a very small amount -- and demanded reimbursement for what was owed. Through this story, Jesus was illustrating how generous God, our Father, is with us in forgiving us for our many wrongdoings, so we, in turn, should forgive others.

This week, I forgot to write this article. Yes, you're reading it, but only because I wrote it and turned it in at the very last minute after being reminded by my friends at the newspaper. That's not like me. I like to be reliable. I do not like to have to ask for forgiveness, and I particularly don't like to ask for forgiveness due to forgetfulness. Dependability is a good trait to have -- as is having a good memory. But judging oneself too harshly -- or, particularly, judging others if they do not live up to your personal high standards -- can be a sin that needs to be forgiven.

My father was the most reliable, responsible, dependable man I've ever known, and I idolized him. I wanted to be just like him: someone who would always be there for people, strong, a rock. I admire those traits. But I also know the high standards he held for himself were stressful on him. He judged himself and others too harshly, and that kind of emotional and physical stress took its toll on him through high blood pressure and a quick temper. My father died at the age of 60 from a heart attack. Males in his family tended to die young from a stroke or a heart attack, so I cannot claim stress killed him. But it was not good for him.

Jesus told his followers that God is our Father. What a mind-blowing statement that must have been to those who heard him! God -- who is the creator of everything, and who is our judge and the origin of how we are to act toward one other for the goodness of the world -- is actually our father! The source of all knowledge, the epitome of perfection, it is God who loves us, teaches us, disciplines us and is a real honest-to-goodness father for us!

God is the source of forgiveness. As we celebrate our earthly fathers this Sunday, many of us remember our dads, who are no longer on this earth. Others get to hug their dads, and still others will have long phone conversations. Most are probably like me and give thanks to God they were blessed with a dad who loved them and taught them well. Others will remember the many ways their dads did not, or could not, be the sort of father that they needed. No earthly father is perfect. Only our heavenly Father is perfect.

Today would be a good day to analyze those traits you took from your earthly father, that seemed so good at the time, but have less than desirable side-effects -- such as tendencies toward perfectionism and the inability to forgive yourself. Father's Day is a good time to forgive your dad for his imperfections and look to the example of Jesus Christ to see what traits of our heavenly Father we could take on.

It's also a good day to ask God for forgiveness for yourself -- we all need it!