Fatherhood isn’t celebrated in American culture nearly enough. Sadly, the Hallmarking of a holiday contributes little to its meaning, but it complicates its celebration. Father’s Day brings joy, emptiness, or pain, depending on how it is internalized. Here is my prayer for Father’s Day.
A Father’s Day Prayer
Lord God, You are our Father in heaven, our Creator and our Redeemer.
It is You who put the stars in the sky and consider children a heritage from You, a reward and a blessing, like “arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them.” (Ps. 127:3-5)
We recognize fathers in our human realm, those who have been blessed to sire children like “olive shoots around the table.” (Ps. 128) Those who take the responsibility of raising children seriously, and though they fail at times, they still strive to live the fruitful life of righteousness, modeling it for their families.
We also recognize children whose earthly fathers fall into categories of departed, distant, degenerate, or disappeared. For you, Father’s Day may be very painful. I ask that the “Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,” (2 Cor. 1:3) will be near to you, the brokenhearted, and to bring healing. May you know God as your Father—a “father to the fatherless…is God in his holy dwelling.” (Ps. 68:5) He will wipe away every tear and for you who revere His Name, “the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its rays” (Mal. 4:2).
Finally, for those of you who greatly desired children but you have been unable to father earthly children, may God comfort you as well. May He fill the void only He can fill and grant you opportunities to be “as a father” to those who need your wisdom, love, and guidance. Your value in this world is no less, but arguably more because your actions and mentoring can bear more fruit than physically possible, as Paul said to the Church in Corinth, “in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel.” (1 Cor. 4:15)
Strengthen us all, our Father in heaven, for the tasks at hand. Make us strong. Make us wise. Guide us into all righteousness. Keep us resolute, to walk in Your ways and grant us both Your grace and humility as we celebrate the gift of fathers this day.
Amen.