My Daughter’s Heart
“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
My husband is a good man, but not a perfect man. One of the qualities I admire most about him is how he loves our daughter. He shows her what godly love is through his words and actions in her life. I know he would fight lions for her, step in front of a moving car or do whatever it takes to keep her safe and secure. I think his love towards her is the perfect example of God’s love for us as women—God’s love for us is unending, limitless and pure. The Shepherd lays down His life for His sheep and keeps us close to His heart. “I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep” (John 10:11).
Our daughter sent her father a card recently that brought him to tears. She thanked him for always loving her, nurturing her and believing in her. She shared how he was her one true love here on earth and that she realized he was the only man that could love her like that and that her heart was safe with him.
This got me thinking about how no man on earth would love her like Jesus or her earthly father. I pray she will be able to give up any expectations of looking for the perfect husband. As she makes her relationship with Jesus the most important relationship she will pursue in her life, if it’s God’s will for her, God will show her the man He has chosen for her. If she accepts Christ’s perfect love and uses the example of the love her earthly father gives her and shows her, she will be able to wait for that kind of true love in a man here on earth. He will not be a perfect man, but he can be God’s perfect will for her. Only Jesus gives perfect love!
True love can wait and it is worth waiting for—just like waiting for our Lord to return. It may seem like forever, but “one day” will become that “someday” we are all waiting for.
I recognize that some women have not had a godly earthly example of a father, so it’s harder to relate to God with this kind of love. I understand this completely. I lost my father at age 12 and I only have faint memories of him now. This great loss draws me even closer to making my Heavenly Father my daddy.
Thank You, Lord, that Jesus gives us the example of perfect love. Your love as our Father in heaven is always available for each one of us in all stages of life. Please give us more patience as we wait for You and remember that the best is yet to come. Amen!