My Daddy's Story
Posted by Annette Burrell, June 20, 2023
How do I begin to tell the story of this man I call Father? Where can I find the words to describe what he means to me? If I were to author a book portraying him as the main character, the pages would be filled with stories that convey love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. It would be a love story with lots of adventure!
My daddy would always rescue his children from a mess they had created. He would be at the head of a class teaching or on the banks of a river offering his students practical lessons on how to live life. He can do anything and most certainly has. He was "Mister Mom" before the world even coined the phrase. My book would be filled with pages from cover to cover that would provide the details of the man who is undoubtedly the greatest father of them all. It would be one of those books you just couldn’t put down.
Well, there you have it. This is my Daddy. This is my Father—my Heavenly One.
My Heavenly Father
I met my Heavenly Father—my Daddy—when I was 15. I was at a youth event and heard a verse I had memorized as a child:
For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believes in him shall have everlasting life. (John 3:16)
The preacher spoke of sin and forgiveness. Romans 3:23 says:
For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.
He went on to say that we can’t work our way into Heaven. In fact, what we earn as sinners is death and eternal life apart from God.
But God has a gift for us. It is free.
We do not have to work for it or try to earn it in some way. All we must do is accept it. Romans 6:23 says:
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 10:9 says:
If you declare (or confess) with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you shall be saved.
I felt a tug in my heart, and I surrendered to the Holy Spirit that night and experienced true freedom for the first time.
My Earthly Father
I had a very tumultuous relationship with my earthly father and tried most of my life to make him proud. It seemed to me that he loved his two sons and tolerated the daughters. He participated in my brothers’ lives and totally left my sisters and me out of his. I am a grown adult now and have children and grandchildren that I adore. I don’t see my dad through the eyes of a child anymore. My Heavenly Father helped me realize that my dad doesn’t have what I have. He doesn’t know Jesus. How can I expect him to show me love, when he has never experienced true love himself? Once I realized this, I had compassion for my dad for the first time. It is no longer a burden to help facilitate his care. He hasn’t changed, but through the Holy Spirit’s guidance, I have.
My Heavenly Father
By the grace of God, He has been slowly fulfilling His purpose for my life. My Heavenly Father orchestrated a beautiful family and wonderful career for me, where He defined my gifts and talents. I am blown away at how God can use us when we surrender to Him.
David puts it so well in Psalm 139:14:
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
I spent so many years trying to please my earthly father, that I missed that it was my heavenly Father I needed to please and praise.
My Abba Father, my Daddy, is perfect in every way! He wants the very best for me. He loves me; He guides me; He forgives me; He never leaves me. I could go on and on about my Daddy, but you can read it for yourself—the number 1 best seller: The Holy Bible. The book begins with Genesis. And although, from cover to cover, it ends with Revelation 22:21. His story never ends. It’s a story that lasts forever, and it’s my Daddy’s story!
Every time I read this book, I ask myself, “Why did I wait so long to read it all the way through?” Then I hear Him say, “It’s ok. It’s never too late.”
I pray for those who open the book and read it for the first time. I pray that God will open your hearts, minds, and souls so that you will experience the love of the Father just as I have. Now that I have a relationship with Him, it brings new meaning for me to say, “Happy Father’s Day!”
Annette Burrell is an author, speaker, and singer/songwriter. Through Annette’s years of being a public servant, and her devotion to studying the Bible, God has equipped her to lead women into His presence, and share with them how they can grow in Christ. Her passion is learning, sharing about the Heavenly realms, and God’s plan of protection for us as believers.