When Father’s Day Hurts

Father’s Day has always brought on mixed emotions for me. My relationship with my own Dad is complicated, and while I appreciate the good things he did, it often serves as a reminder of painful memories when he let me down. I know some people have it much worse with their fathers, in fact, some were extremely abusive or absent altogether. But I also don’t like this movement to push Father’s Day to the side or celebrate it in hushed tones to avoid hurting people who are struggling on this day.

Instead, I am happy to see people share lovely stories of amazing fathers. Not only do they deserve to be celebrated, but it serves as a greater reminder that there are actually good men who love their children and pour into them. Those of us with difficult relationships with our dads need to see the reality that this isn’t how it has to be. That we can put an end to preconceived notions of what a father is and how men behave in general. It’s imperative to our healing that we see men who reflect the kind of loving father that God is and how deeply He cares for us and takes joy in who we are.

So I appeal to those who also have “complicated” relationships with their dads to not let your sadness and grief overtake you this day but to let it raise a standard on your perception of what makes a man and allow it to draw you closer to your Father God. Let it help you consider more wisely what kind of man you will choose to be a father to your children or the kind of father you will be. Let it be a reminder to rejoice in the fact that earthly fathers fail us but that God never will and He will be our true father for all of eternity, showering us in perfect love and grace.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. –2 Corinthians 1:3-4