Fathers

Fathers Day has come and gone.  Instagram and  Facebook blown up with collages and amazing words to their Fathers.  I love Father's Day, but recently, special days like Father's Day, birthdays, Christmas , anniversaries, etc, have taken on a different feeling.  I feel I need to cherish these times a lot more than I used to.  I want to share my feelings about three types of Fathers. My father, me being a father, and the relationship of my Savior and our Heavenly Father.

First, my Dad!  I love my Dad.  I have learned so much from my Dad.  He's the most loving, giving, hard working man I know!  We all say that but I really don't know of anybody like my Dad.  He named me after him.  When I was growing up and the phone rang, if someone asked for "Tom", the entire household would ask, " big Tom or Little Tom?" I'm honored to have his name! One of my biggest accomplishments as a teenager was when I beat him in an arm wrestle!!!! I've worked for him, I've seen him out work younger men every day, all day!  Beast Mode!  My Dad would give anything to take away the pains and heartaches of his wife, kids, and Grandchildren.  Actually, he would try and help anyone and everyone!  I love my Dad and I'm thankful I'm his son!!

Second, me as a Father!  How can anyone put into words how they feel about their kids?  I get emotional thinking about what they mean to me.  It is truly a gift from Heaven to be a Father, and to have children who rely on you for EVERYTHING!  I hurt for parents who have lost a child, or who have watched one of their precious little ones suffer.  I can't imagine!  As a father I have learned to love beyond anything I could have imagined, to protect, to teach, to comfort, to cry and to trust!  My greatest calling if that of Father and I hope and pray that my kids know how much I love them and know I would do anything for them!

Finally, my Savior and Our Father!  The reason we love our kids and our Fathers is because "he first loved us"! How truly special is this relationship?  I want to focus on two amazing and eternal instances in this special relationship.  First, the garden.  I  can't understand what went on in the Garden, but I know it was an act of love.  I know that the Savior kneeled before his Father and suffered the pains and sins of the world, and our Father loved us so much, he allowed him to suffer the greatest suffering this world has ever known! "For God so loved the world,that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth  in him should not perish, but have everlasting life"(John 3:16).  And second, when the Savior had suffered in the Garden, been beaten, scourged, spit upon, and nailed to and hung on a cross, he cried out "Eli Eli, lama sanachthani? That is to say my God My god! why hast thou forsaken me?" In Hebrew this phrasing has an intimate tone,  maybe meaning, " Daddy, Daddy".  Our Savior called upon his Father for help, I'm sure with tears in his eyes.  The same as I did to my Father, and my sweet kids do to me,   In moments of pain , sorrow grief or fear, we need our Daddy!  Now, I am not saying that I have any clue what my Savior went through, I'm just saying the love between a Father and his children is special!!! Happy Father's Day to all the amazing Dads, uncles, brothers, grandpas, guardians, anyone who plays the role of a Father figure!! You are Loved!!  Thank you all for your love, support and prayers! Til we meet again!  We got this!!!