A Father's Love

When Megan Becker was 5 years old, she made a paper tie for her dad for Father’s Day. Her dad commented on how much he liked it and  that he would wear it on her wedding day. She giggled and went out to play. Through the years, the tie hung on the mirror in his room. He would dust it off from time to time and comment, “I will wear this at your wedding.” In her teenage years, Megan would roll her eyes and say, “Okay dad!” When her parents moved into their new home, the tie was no longer on the mirror. Without Megan knowing, her dad had hidden the tie so she would assume that it had been lost in the move. Two years later, on her wedding night, just before the father daughter dance, Mr. Becker put on the paper tie and turned around to dance with Megan. She told her dad, “I will treasure this moment for the rest of my life. Love you dad!”

John Miller is a lifelong Major League Baseball fan. Through the years, he has collected baseball cards, including several Jose Altuve sets. After his father died, looking through the cards reminded John of the many hours he shared with his dad at baseball games. Miller is a single father. Recently his 10-year-old daughter mentioned that she had outgrown her shoes and needed new ones. With money being tight, John made the decision to sell his baseball card collection. He spent time boxing up his cards and then took them to the local dealer. While at the store, another customer overheard John telling his story of the need to sell the cards. Eventually, the story made it to the Astros organization and Altuve. A few days later, Altuve made a surprise visit to John at his home. Explaining that he heard the story of Miller selling his baseball collection, Jose replaced the Altuve cards John sold and also included some he had been wanting to add to his collection. His daughter, Emma, received a signed jersey. Before leaving, Jose handed John an envelope. He had written a note and included a check to cover Emma’s new shoes, school supplies, and money to set up a college savings fund. The note stated, “You gave up something you loved for someone you love even more. That kind of sacrifice deserves to be honored.” Through tears, John replied, “I never imagined something like this could happen. I just wanted to be a good dad. I never expected anything in return.”

I’m grateful that God lavishes his great love on his children every day. Because we are loved, may it make a difference in how we love, speak to, help, and treat others.

 

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!

1 John 3:1a