Looking at Birds

Column Post by Laura Hyers

There are times when I take for granted the good relationship I have with my father, the influence he had on me as a child, and the level of involvement he continues to show in my life now that I’m married. But seeing the things that come to mind when women in this incredible community are thinking about their own fathers makes me grateful for mine.

Maybe your dad wasn’t good. Maybe he tried really hard, or maybe he didn’t, but he didn’t do what he needed to do in one way or another—purposeful or accidental. Maybe he hurt you.

Maybe he was an incredible man, taken too soon. Maybe your adult life is punctuated with sadness at the things your father has missed because of death, and though there is supposed to be some comfort in knowing that you can see him again one day, there is little.

Maybe he’s still around, but one or both of you are uninvolved. It could have been an argument, or geography, or the slow drifting apart that comes so easy with time. Whatever it was, it happened, and your dad and you don’t speak any more.

I feel selfish telling you I can’t relate, precious reader. I feel greedy saying the issues that have shown up in my time with my dad have been minor compared to what other people deal with, what you’ve dealt with.

But regardless of what you’ve had to walk through in terms of pain and hurt and loss, there is a father who cannot be taken from you, a father who will not desert or disappoint you. You’ve probably heard this before, but I encourage and challenge you to really think about this:

Human fathers are fallible; there is no way around it. But our Heavenly Father is perfect in every way. He designed fatherhood, and He is the shining example of everything our earthly fathers would have been in a world without sin.

Sometimes the hurt of the past can take incredible time and effort to overcome. But you don’t need to be past your issues and pain to rest in the peace God offers you. He is offering it to you right now, just as you are.

I have a strange obsession with birds. I’ve loved them since I was little—their beauty, their songs, the freedom found in flying. It never surprises me that one of my favorite Bible verses talks about them.

“Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?” – Matthew 6.26

You are precious and valued by your Creator, dear one. You are important and planned for and taken care of. Your earthly father may have dropped the ball, but your Heavenly Father never will.

P.S. We’d love to know your thoughts; be sure to share in the comments section below. This month we will draw TEN winners from our commenters and the winners will receive one of these two  books, Hope for a Hurting Heart or To Let You Know I Care by our featured author this month, Cheryl Karpen. 

Laura Hyers is a Tampa native, writer, and the newly wed wife of musician Caleb. She recently graduated from the University of South Florida with a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a concentration in literature and is currently teaching preschool. When not chasing a class of two-year-olds, Laura is writing and fighting fierce bouts of wanderlust. She loves music, reading, being near the ocean, and dreaming big over huge cups of coffee with her best friend Lakin. Laura blogs at http://littlebirdmarie.wordpress.com.

Read more encouraging stories from brave-hearted women here. Be sure to grab your free copy of inspirational quotes and writing prompts while you’re there. (Look over on the right hand side!)