Father's Day is a wonderful occasion for every father to reevaluate his relationship with his children! 

As a pastor, I often share the following story about a father's love for his son—even after that son disappointed him by choosing to travel a different path.

Sound familiar to anyone?

As I begin, I need to ask each father this question to frame the story: How satisfied are you with your role as a father? If you measure up to the father in the story, then well and fine.

But, if at this moment in time you don't quite measure up, know that our Heavenly Father is able to grant you the where-with-all to fill such shoes. So stay with the story to its conclusion and for some final thoughts. 

A child desperately in need

A Quaker family lived in Pennsylvania. Against his father's wishes Jonathan ran away and enlisted in the cause of the North during America's Civil War.  Time passed and no word from Jonathan. One night the father dreamed that his son had been wounded in action and needed the care of a father.

So the father left the farm, discovered where the troops might be and made it to the scene of action. Finding the commander, he asked about his son. The commander explained that there had been heavy action earlier in the day and many who had been wounded were still in the trenches.  But he gave the father permission to look for his son and explained to him where the action had occurred.

A father's search

It was dark. So the father lit a lantern and methodically combed the scene of action. At first that wasn't fruitful. Then he began calling loudly, "Jonathan Smythe, thy father seeketh after thee." Again he would walk a little way and call, "Jonathan Smythe, thy father seeketh after thee." A groan could be heard here and there and someone would say, "I wish that were my father."

He diligently kept at his search. Finally he heard a faint, barely audible reply, "Father, over here"—and then, "I knew you would come."

The father knelt down and took his son in his arms, comforting him with his presence. He dressed his wounds, took him in the buggy to a secluded place and nursed him back to health. What a father! 

The everyday role of a father

Fathers often rise to the greatest of needs when emergencies strike—just like this Quaker father. But how many fathers fill the needs and expectations of their loved ones on a day-to-day by basis? 

If you are having a hard time finding your moorings regarding this "fatherhood thing" and feel down and out, I've got some really good news for you.

Do you realize that your own Heavenly Father is seeking you out right now to be the kind of father that He desires you to be? And He provides just the advice and guidance you need to steer you in the right direction.

Restoring what's lost

One of the greatest teachings of Jesus Christ during His earthly ministry is about the God who searches and seeks after those who call upon Him as their Father.   

In Luke 15, Jesus shares three incredible stories about seeking after that which has been lost and is precious. The stories are meant to build upon one another as Jesus moves from the one lost sheep vs. the ninety and nine (verses 4-7), to the one coin missing from the ten (verses 8-10), to a father's ultimate one-on-one encounter with his prodigal son (verses 11-32). 

Each story describes the struggles of the search and the incredible joy of finding that which had been lost and was subsequently recovered.

Christians in today's world often take these stories for granted, not fully appreciating the initial mold-breaking revelation in  Jesus' teaching of a Father that doesn't simply demand of the creation, but desires to seek and search after us even when we are lost—and yes, down and out!

Do you need to turn over a new leaf?

If you have been losing your way as a father and feel lost as to the priceless role of parenthood, the good news is there is a way of return.

Like the Quaker father, the Father above is patiently saying to you, "(fill in your name), Thy Father seeketh after thee."  Yes, He is right there in the thick of the battle with you in the challenging task of molding the next generation.