When Your Father is Less than Perfect

On this the dawn of another Father's day, many of us will celebrate the presence of a father or "dad" in our lives. Many of our "dads" have done the best they can for us, and have been there for all all of our successes and failures along the way. Some of our fathers have taught us how to play sports. Some have taught us right and wrong. And still yet some have taught us the family profession, whether it be truck driving, pastoring, or running a business among other things.

On the other scope of things, however, are those who have a father who is "less than perfect". Maybe he struggled with a bad temper. Maybe he struggled with alcohol and drugs. Or maybe he is even incarcerated or has had other brushes with the law. When you have a less than perfect father, it's easy to have animosity about it. It's easy to get mad about the things he does (or did) and want to throw up your hands and say, "Oh well, it's too late for us to have a relationship!" But here are a couple of things to remember:

1) Those who have an imperfect earthly father have a perfect heavenly father. We must remember that God is a "father to the fatherless." (Psalm 68:5)

2) Even if we have a less than perfect father we should seek to reconcile the relationship and forgive him if at all possible. Remember that Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." (Luke 23:34) In a sense we all, in some regards, "know not what we do" because we have been marred by this sinful world. We might realize something is wrong, but the sins of pride and the blight of denial cause us not to realize what we are doing. The same goes for our earthly fathers at times.

3) We should pray for our fathers. Whether we have a father who is "perfect" in our eyes, or who is less than perfect, we should keep them in prayer, especially if they are unsaved, but even if they are saved and are a professing Christian.

Whether you have a perfect or "less than perfect" father, may God bless you this upcoming father's day!