Daddy's Little Girl

Finally!!! Able to post something again.....my computer sometimes gets on my last nerve and stays there for a very very long time.

Anyway, I have had this idea for awhile and it is finally time to place it in writing.

Last semester, I had the privilege to be in a book study on campus with a couple local priests and some close friends. We were reading the novel Blue Like Jazz, and were enjoying some of the many discussions that come from it. Most of the time we got off track but there was one day were the conversation took a turn that really got me thinking. In one of the chapters the author discussed the name of Father, in terms of talking to God. He asked why as Christians do we say Father and God interchangeably. And it got our group talking about our own fathers. During the conversation see a bigger connection....

You see I brought up the idea that to many of us God is the Father. He like many Dads out there, is the protector, the one that watches over us. He loves us unconditionally like the Dads of the world. He is the perfect example of what a Father should be, he is our heavenly Father. So what if our image of God is linked to our image of our fathers? I know mine kinda is.

My image of my Heavenly Father is so closely linked to the image that is my Dad, my Papa Nuke, my Daddy. You see my Dad was amazing growing up, I think all my siblings can say the same thing. He was a man that would give anything for his kids. If that meant working the night shift and then getting in a car and driving three hours so we can all be together then so be it. My daddy was a man of faith that I was always in awe of. He always protected those close to him. He is always a man that would give up his time to help others and never complain about it. But there is so much more. My Daddy is a great teacher as well. From cars to history and everything in between. He was always there to help with a school protect, he would sit and talk about the history of each plane at an airshow, if I had questions about WWII there was always a chance to go to the Nimitz museum. Wanna learn about car engines, go to my Dad. He is also one of my biggest supports, if I need a hug I know I can go to him and get a hug that feels like it will never end. He was always there to wipe away a tear and always there is I just needed him. My Dad is my best example of my Heavenly Father. Even in times of arguments my Dad is my best example.

You see just like Dads here we has children of God seem to love to argue with him sometimes. We get upset when he doesn't give us what he wants, and we defy him if we think we know better. But like my Dad did for me, God is always there, waiting for us to realize we made a mistake, and always willing to forgive us when we do wrong.

In my eyes that is one of the many reasons (that aren't spelled out in the bible) that God truly is the Father. But I wanna take it a step further, for me God is also my Daddy. He will love and cherish us like a Daddy loves a little girl. And for me, Daddy is more respectful then Father, why? Because daddy means that I truly love him with my whole heart, Daddy is filled with the love that I have for God and all that he does for me. That is why I love the song Abba Father. In it, the lyrics state:

Abba Father, I love you Daddy 

Abba Father I love you, I love you 

Abba Father I love you Daddy 

I love you Daddy. 

Those lyrics are filled with our love of the Father, of our Daddy. And every time I sing it I think of not only my Father and Daddy in heaven, but I think of my Daddy. The love I have for both takes over and I become overwhelmed with love and emotion for the two! Without the example of my Dad I wouldn't have the image and views that I have of my Father. And I thank my Dad so much for showing me in this world the love and compassion that my Father in Heaven has for me in the next world. 

So in conclusion, I love you Daddy, both here and in heaven!