Mark 1: 9-11: In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized in the Jordan by John. As soon as He came up out of the water, He saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending to Him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: You are My beloved Son;
I take delight in You!
Luke 8: 48: And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.”
Unlike the many tributes of loving, attentive fathers that I have read in the last few days in various social media, I didn’t have a relationship with my father, having no fond memories to pass along. But, when I was age 9, I learned of a Heavenly Father who loved me, and that discovery changed the way I viewed myself.
In the first scripture above, God the Father reminds his Son, Jesus, that his Father loved him and was pleased with him, just as he’s about to begin a journey of salvation and healing that would result in his death on the Cross at Calvary. What a moment of joy to hear from one’s Father that you are special and bring your Father delight and joy! These are affirmations that we all need to hear from our earthly fathers as we journey toward fulfilling the plans that our Heavenly Father have for our lives.
In the second scripture, a woman had been healed after an affliction that lasted for twelve long years. She touched Jesus’s garment, and power flowed out of him into her body, performing a miracle of healing. Then, Jesus wanted to know who had touched him. When she told him her story, he addressed her lovingly as “Daughter,” pleased with her faith in Him. This story is a confirmation that Jesus and God are One.
Today, I am proud to be my Father’s daughter, a child of the Creator of the world, and sheep of His pasture. With a child’s heart, I trust in Him, because he has been my refuge, my fortress, my rescue from violent men, and my help in times of trouble.
I can hear His voice proclaim, “Regina, I love you!” And because of Jesus’s obedience, even to death on the Cross, I know that my Father sees me as righteous, meaning that he is well pleased with me, even though I am not perfect in this broken world.
I never heard words of love from my earthly father, but just knowing that my Father above sees me and hears me is an affirmation to my value and worth, something every child needs. A father should be a child’s first superhero.
To the fathers who have walked the walk and been steadfast in their love and duties to their children, the men whose children write such warm words of gratitude and admiration to mark this day, I salute you on this Father’s Day. And may we all be refreshed in our spirits today knowing that our heavenly Father knows us by name and loves us and finds no condemnation in us, thanks to our faith in the One He sent to save us from our sins.
Help from Heaven 
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