Leave the 99

           Usually, we avoid going to church on Father’s Day at my house. It is just hard on my girls to be reminded that their earthly dad is not present anymore. But what I want for my girls more than anything is for them to focus on their relationship with their Heavenly Father. We did go to church this year and I am so glad we did. The message was very powerful. I am not sure I took away everything the pastor was meaning for me to understand. He was talking about the story where God leaves the 99 sheep to find the lost sheep. If you aren’t familiar with the story it is analogy for how God is our Shepherd and as a good shepherd would keep the herd safe, God would leave the 99 sheep to go and rescue the one lost sheep. A lost sheep without a shepherd is helpless. But God is so concerned about the lost sheep. God is concerned with me. He is concerned with my daughters. He cares deeply about our afflictions and pain. God does not want my children to be fatherless. He does not want this affliction to make them helpless. God is a good Father. Just like the song we sang today; God has always been faithful and always will. Both of my girls sat beside me today in service. One with her hands lifted in praise and one with tears running down her face. At that moment all I could do was thank God for always being faithful and pray that he would keep seeking after my two children. I prayed my children will stay close to God and see that God loves them. I prayed that the pain of missing their dad would fade. Today didn’t have to be a day to avoid but instead a day to celebrate the love of God and family.