The Gospel of Fatherhood

Adelaide was three weeks old in this picture, but she and her daddy still look at one other like this. She's our oldest, and during those newborn months, the weight and magic of my new motherhood and my husband's new fatherhood astounded me. Who were we to be entrusted with someone so precious?

During those months, I came across a quote from Hayley DiMarco that I've never forgotten: "A girl's father is her first love, her evidence that there truly is a God and that he truly loves her."

I've gifted the quote and spoken it over my husband many times, believing it to be true: So much of what our kids understand about God will be through his fatherhood. As a man of integrity, courage, and humility, my husband, I wholeheartedly believe, offers our kids an easier road to knowledge of God. Adelaide will know that God can look at her with affection and tenderness because she's seen that look in her daddy's eyes. 

What an high calling, for imperfect fathers to be entrusted to represent the perfect Father! The beauty of this role that could be burdensome is this: the gospel means that even in imperfection, earthly fathers can direct their children's gaze to the heavenly Father, telling them, "Though I long to love you perfectly, I cannot do it. But let me tell you about the God who loves both of us perfectly and forgives us over and over again." Like I heard Jerrad Lopes say on a recent episode of The Journeywomen Podcast, "There's a better Daddy than Daddy."

How thankful we are for all the daddies who, in both their virtue and lack, give us a glimpse of what God is like: a good Father who loves us perfectly and relentlessly.

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