Have you ever noticed how you only miss something once it is gone? Or notice that after it is gone you did not know what you really had? Over the last few months, it has become much clearer of something I lost and its value to me.
For around ten years I had a confident and a wise should to lean on that I no longer have to lean on the same. I knew when I lost Brother Jones that I had lost not only my overseer but a supporter and a spiritual father in my ministry. In the last few months, there have been a few moments that I gained a new realization not only of the actual loss and the immediate benefit I had with him but the benefit I gained over the weeks that would follow our time together.
One of those enlightening times was last week when I attended the funeral of another giant that I have looked up to since I was a boy. Brother Jim Williams passed away and I was saddened as I realized another cheerleader and supporter had passed. Another spiritual father example. Of course, my heart broke not only for myself but my dear friends, his sons.
This past Sunday our worship team was leading a song called “Abba.” The song speaks of our abba father in heaven. As I was worshipping I began to think of all the spiritual fathers that had been lost and even my own loss in them. I was overwhelmed with the strong loving shoulders they provided. Then a line broke me. It says “He will not leave us as orphans.” I still have a Spiritual Father, or Spiritual daddy (abba a personal father).
As the years pass prayer seems to change to be more and more personal. We all have those we can and do talk to and spend time within our victories and failures. As we lose those, we often struggle – myself too. However, God was reminding me that not only will He be what I am missing, but He is perfect. He is my Heavily Spiritual Daddy.
The song and melody also state “Abba, I belong to you… Your a good, good father.” What a powerful statement of saying, Daddy God, I choose to belong to you, I want you to be my father not just my savior because I know you are a good (Great) Father.
This time of year many people are reminded of what they no longer have in loved ones who have passed on and they miss them in stronger ways than normal. The second wave of emotion I felt in that service was for some friends who recently lost their father. I felt the Lord remind me that He has not left any alone or as orphans.
If you are reading this and do not have your loved ones or even a spiritual father with you anymore, remember you have a Heavily Spiritual Father that is good.
