A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words
June 18, 2023 — Laura House
An old adage states that “a picture is worth a thousand words.” I feel that way today. As you know, today is Father’s Day, a time to celebrate and honor the important men in our lives; and the pictures on paper and in my mind are vivid.
First, describing my appreciation for my father would take much more than a blog post; so I’m going to just give you a glimpse.
Full of love for his children, he was the ultimate encourager. I remember one year when I was around twelve years old, I decided on my future career; a gymnast. I wanted to be Nadia Comaneci. Never mind the fact that I couldn’t do a cartwheel and had little athletic prowess. I was certain. I divulged this dream to my Dad, who was a physical education teacher and keenly aware of my inabilities. Rather than squelch my enthusiasm, Dad went to work. On Christmas morning, the gift that I had so desperately desired was under the tree — or more accurately, sprawled across the living room floor; a balance beam that he had built. Of course it was only raised six inches from the ground, which allowed me to topple off every few seconds without hurting myself. Accompanying the beam was a coupon for a few beginning tumbling lessons.
If you’ve ever read about gymnasts, you know that these athletes begin at a young age, which I wasn’t. And, they aren’t already five feet tall, which I was. Needless to say, I was the only kid there who couldn’t do a proper forward roll or cartwheel and I towered over the class. But you know what? I didn’t feel bad about the misguided future career at all; because of my Dad. I had tried something that I felt strongly about, and he was proud that I did. His response was to “go for it” and enjoy the process. And I did. I spent many hours in the backyard under the big cherry tree next to the barn lot, enjoying that balance beam; not for a future career, but just for fun.
When I married Gary, I knew I was marrying the father of the future children that I hoped I would have. I looked for the qualities that I believed were important, and then witnessed those throughout the precious years of parenting together, and still get to see them today in his interactions with our adult children. His love runs deep.
While the kids were growing up, Gary was always the one who wanted “one more picture” amid the groans of the rest of us. Inside, I complained. I was ready to move to the next animal at the zoo or the next Civil War site, but he cheerfully instructed that we really needed “just one more.”
Today, I am beyond grateful for the myriad of memories that can be experienced from those boxes of pictures. And in those photos, I see many things about Gary as a dad. He loved his family sacrificially and unconditionally. He was a tour guide, confidant, provider, encourager, spiritual leader, comforter, protector, teacher, and so much more. He wanted to give the kids interesting experiences, and he wanted them to have fun.
I love the picture of the time that Gary had strategically placed squirt guns, buckets of water, and water balloons behind trees and other objects in our backyard. Then, he called the kids and said that he wanted to talk with them. Obediently taking their places at the picnic table, they wondered what the talk was going to be about. Suddenly, Gary grinned and let loose, starting the water war. He hadn’t told me about his plan either, so I quickly ran into the house to grab the camera to capture a memory that is precious today.
Our pictures of the past are truly priceless, albeit bittersweet, as we continually miss Nathan. Perhaps another blog post can talk about the grief that fathers experience when losing a child. If you are a grieving dad today, then you already know. I’m grateful that after traveling down the road of grief for a while, the memories become a solace to the soul and usually draw a smile in the midst of the deep missing. But it takes a long time for the heart to catch up to the head— what we know to be true; that this separation is temporary and we’ll be with our children again.
While I was contemplating my dad and my husband and the qualities that are so endearing, my mind immediately began to think about my Heavenly Father — who is also yours. As I began to add a list of His qualities and intentions toward us to this blog post, I quickly became overwhelmed. You see, as much as my Dad and my husband love their children, it’s a pittance compared to the love that God has for all of us.
When I read the Bible and experience the Lord through a personal relationship with Him, what picture do I see? First, I see a Heavenly Father who created mankind to be in fellowship with Him. Read the first few chapters of Genesis, and you’ll see the remarkable love of our Creator. Even when sin entered the picture, God’s love for us didn’t change.
For many people, Father’s Day is a painful reminder that their earthly fathers were not present in their lives or were a negative influence. But that is not the case with our Heavenly Father whose love is unparalleled and unending. Regardless of your circumstances today, there is nothing you can do to alter the unconditional love that God has for you.
When I think of the love that Gary and I have for our children, I realize that they aren’t really “ours”. We had the privilege of parenting them, but we didn’t create them. Our human love can not even compare to the love of the One who created our children — and created us.
The ultimate demonstration of God’s sacrificial love toward us is Jesus and the cross. “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8
When I look at God I see a Father who guides us, if we’ll ask and draw close to Him. I see a Father who protects, provides, teaches, and instructs, to only name a few.
If you are in a season of grief, then you are keenly aware that He is also the only One who can truly comfort our broken hearts. Grief is no stranger to Him. One of the online book studies that we offer at Our Hearts Are Home uses a book by Nancy Guthrie, Hearing Jesus Speak into Your Sorrow. Walking through scripture, the book helps us see Jesus’ sufferings as they relate to our own grief. If you are a bereaved parent, we invite you to join us for the next study this fall. When a group of parents gather together, the fellowship is sweet, as is the comfort.
If a picture is worth a thousand words, what picture do you see when you think about God? I encourage you to spend time in the Bible to discover the true character of God. God’s heart toward you is always good.
Let’s be thankful today for the earthly heritage of fathers, but even more grateful for our Heavenly Father, His love for us, and the incredible promise of eternity.
