God Our Father

My father and mother separated when I was eight years old. My mom raised me and my brother, but we had very few childhood memories of our dad. The steady father figure in our lives was our grandpa, whom we called Daddy.

Daddy loved Jesus, and his life exemplified his faith. He was our go-to person for wise advice. We enjoyed listening to his personal anecdotes, and his fatherly presence was a source of comfort and confidence for me.

When Daddy passed away, I was overcome with grief and an intense feeling of being fatherless. Although I was comforted knowing that he was with Jesus, I couldn’t help but feel weighed down by the pain and heartache of losing a loved one. In a quiet moment with the Lord, I remembered the phrase “a father to the fatherless” in the Bible. I felt God assuring me then that although I had lost an earthly father — for a second time — God is my heavenly Father.

I’m grateful to God for my grandpa’s presence in my life. Even though losing him has been painful, it is also an opportunity to find comfort in my heavenly Father who is always present and faithful to me.