I don’t ever remember a time that I didn’t look up to my dad. The fact that he is 6’4″ is one reason that looking up to him is all I can do. As a little girl, I remember pressing my bare feet on top of his feet as he led me in a dance of gentle swaying. As a high school girl, I stared into my daddy’s eyes as he crowned me with a laurel wreath symbolizing a rite of passage into adulthood. The pride in my dad’s eyes is something I will never forget. As a grown woman, I still find myself captivated when looking into my dad’s eyes as the wisdom and life experiences of 94 years are reflected back to me.
Looking up becomes our life goal. Seeking the next big thing, striving for success, or setting the stage for the next life phase. But all of these worldly goals end in worldly results. Looking up when seeking Godly goals will require a looking in, listening well and learning to live life with a sense of purpose.
Each time I have leaned in and looked up into my dad’s eyes, I have learned something new. The lesson of remaining calm in all situations. The acts of love that my dad bestows on those around him. How to listen well. Showing others what it looks like to be truly interested in what they are saying. Subtle reminders that God is first, and family is second. Every lesson draws me closer in the hopes that they will rub off on me. Each nuance is carefully recorded in my heart so I can capture the essence of living my life well as long as God ordains it. Looking up to my own daddy bears similarities to looking up into our Heavenly Father’s eyes.
We claim our lives have purpose when we achieve a major milestone, but do we gain the same satisfaction in this accomplishment as we do as a child of God? When we lean in, listen and learn from our earthly dads, are we gaining the same sense of purpose that we receive when we surrender ourselves to our Heavenly Father?
We learn in Proverbs that…
Many are the plans in a person’s heart,
but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails. Proverbs 19:21
Seeking to achieve goals for our own gain never brings the desired fulfillment that we envision. When we turn that around and let God’s plan become our ultimate goal, we will secure contentment.
Timothy shares these wise words:
If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, 4 they are conceited and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions 5 and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain. 6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 1 Timothy 6:3-7
Living with intentionality and seeking to love others well, as Jesus did, provides a sense of purpose in our everyday. It is a chance to gain God rather than be ruled by the world. It is our call to live life leaning in close, listening as if no one else is in the room, and learning the lesson of contentment that comes from God. A life well-lived is a life seeking God’s plan first and our agendas second.
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Mary, every time you write about your dad, it touches my heart. What a gift that relationship has been to your ability to communicate the love of God.
I am blessed to have the most amazing dad. We have grown extremely close this past year as I have become his caregiver. God blessed me with being able to retire and I have had the chance to deepen my relationship with my dad as a result. Thank you for your kind words. When I think of my dad I can come up with so many adjectives to describe him but loving and kind would be the top two.
Mary, thank you for sharing such a meaningful post, showing us how we can live purposefully *for* God when we first listen purposefully *to* God. Talking about your dad brought tears to my eyes as I remember my own. He’s gone nearly eight years now, and I miss him every day. I used to dance atop his big feet (size thirteen shoes!) as you did with your father. I looked up to him, yes, because of his height, but also because of his depth. He was a brilliant and complex man, and one who influenced me in many ways. He didn’t much talk about God, but his character reflected Him. As Daddy lay dying, though, we talked about Jesus. My father hailed from a generation of men who were non-demonstrative verbally. I’m sidetracking here. Sorry. But I love how you have derived your purpose by looking up to the God who made you. He gives each of us significance and wonderful earthly examples, like our parents, to help us to look up to our heavenly Parent, our heavenly Father.
Thank you for such wonderful insights.
Love
Lynn
Thank you for blessing me with the story of your dad. He sounds similar to my own dad. His character does reflect God and even though he doesn’t show outwardly how he is feeling, you always feel his strength and gentleness shining through. My dad still continues to teach me about life and through these life lessons, I understand how to look up to our Heavenly Father. Looking to and for God leads us to living purposefully because we live intentionally for God rather than ourselves.
Mary. Thank you for sharing from m your heart. Every time you you share of learn something new and inspirational. Thank you. Yours in Him, Chris
Thank you for your sweet words. I know you inspire me too. God loves to take our stories connect them with His and make them even more beautiful. I am blessed you stopped by today.
Beautiful post Mary. My dad has been gone nearly 30 years now but all the family remembers his impact on our lives. Yet he wasn’t perfect & our Father God is. I’m so glad me dad pointed us to Jesus
Patti- I appreciate you sharing a glimpse of your father with us. The beautiful thing is that even if our earthly dad was not as present in our lives we have a heavenly Father who craves a relationship with each of us. We just need to reach out and grab it. Love seeing you here Patti. Your kind words bless me.
I didn’t have a dad like this. I am so grateful he provided well for his six children. He loved us the best he knew. But I am ever so grateful for our mother’s prayers which eventually landed me in a church where I soaked for several weeks in a class on The Father Heart of God. What a blessing to know He draws us into His Father Heart whether we had the example or not. You are truly blessed to have had these beautiful memories of your dad!!!
Your openness about your dad touches me. I never want to assume that everyone grew up like I did but I thank you for sharing how your mom’s prayers led you to church. Our heavenly Father loves when we seek Him first and live our lives for Him. What a blessing that God will always run hard after us. Thank you for being here and joining in the conversation.
I had no idea your dad was that tall. He has been such a blessing in your life and I loved reading your description of him. Praying for both of you!
Mary, this is a wonderful piece of writing! Absolutely beautiful!
I was blessed with a true gentleman for my Daddy. He cared about others so much. One time, he organized a “get-together” for neighborhood widows. Three streets of houses with mostly widows and the ladies never saw each other very much. At this “get together” breakfast, old and new friendships blossomed. I am so proud of my Daddy for organizing that event. He went to Heaven on Easter Sunday, April 12, 1998. He and Mama are together in Heaven. I miss them both. Thank you for your post today. 🙂