A guy thing.
The women get chocolate and a little flower for Mother's Day.
I'd swap the tape measure for a burger'n'fries.
But it was nice to get something.
You know, it used to be that the word "Father" meant someone who looked after the family, provided for them, protected them, taught them, and stood between them and the world.
There was even a TV show called "Father Knows Best" that showed the Man of the House in this light.
Today, "Father" is more of a biological context.
Providing 1/2 the genetics for a new, little person.
Fathering a child.
Just making one. Not nurturing one.
Like the one NFL player who had to keep playing due to child support to over seven women and double digit kids.
This guy's a father.
But is he a Dad?
Some people think of HIM that way.
HE made people then walked away.
Got the top spinning and is just sitting back, watching it careen.
An absentee Father.
Huh.
That's not what I've read.
Or experienced.
HE protected us with HIS own life, making a way out of the chaos and death by absorbing that chaos and death.
And HE's walking us home, through the storms and the scary nights.
Home to HIS place, HIS arm around our shoulder.
Never leaving.
Never walking away.
And from what I've read, HIS home is a very nice place.
Because HE's there.
And HE loves each and every one of us. Very much.
I think maybe that's why HIS Son tells us to call HIM, "Abba".
One of the first words little kids in that part of the world would say.
"Daddy".
May this Father's Day be a celebration of your fathers,
the Heavenly and the earthly,
and may you know them both as Dads.