Tell Him You Love Him, Will Ya?
To the few dads who’ve never said “I love you” to their sons . . .
I address this to ‘the few’ because the kinds of dads who read these posts are probably not the ones who never tell their sons they love them. But just in case you’re one of those, listen to what I’m about to say. You have a chance to change the trajectory or your son’s life. Every boy grows up wanting and needing to hear his dad say, “I love you, son!” Every single boy. Withholding those words from your son, no matter how young or old he is, is a travesty. Get over yourself. You told girls you courted, “I love you,” yet you can’t muster the courage to say it to your own flesh and blood? You need to say it. He needs to hear it. It’s not effeminate. It’s not sweet. It’s bold. It’s ballsy! And it should be done while you can still do it.
To the sons who’ve never heard their earthly dads say “I love you” . . .
Lean into the words of Jesus . . . the ones in red letters in your Bible. Here’s Matthew 23:9 . . .
“And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven.”
Forgive your father. Then replace your earthly father with your Heavenly Father. Release your biological dad from your expectations. Re-engage with him as a friend instead of as a father. Cut him slack. He never intended to hurt you. He did the best he could at the time. He probably was a better father to you than his father was to him, so let him go. Think of him as a friend, but reserve your father role for your Heavenly Father. He loves you immensely!
Scripture contains at least forty-two verses that say God loves you. Accept His love. Open your soul to your Heavenly Father this Father’s Day.
Thank you, Father, for adopting me into your family and inviting me to call you Father!
Scriptures:
O Lord you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are the work of your hands. (Isaiah 64:8)
Your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. (Matthew 6:4b)
Your Father knows what you need before you ask him. (Matthew 6:8b)
Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? (Matthew 6:26)
If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! (Matthew 7:11)
Your Father in heaven is not willing that any one of these little ones should be lost. (Matthew 18:14)
For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” (Romans 8:15)
I will be a Father to you and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty. (2 Corinthians 6:18)
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ . . . in love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons. (Ephesians 1:3&5a)
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