The Privilege of Being A Father

Samuel is six months old now. We found a daytime baby sitter for him when he was one month old. Until now, I insist taking him home everyday, never let him stay at baby sitter’s home overnight. I did this for two reasons: One, I hoped that he could see his parents while he woke up in the morning; two, completely selfish reason, I want to see his smile every morning.

I never imagined that my son’s smile can give me such joy. Seeing his smiling and laughing make me feeling happy and satisfied. That feeling is difficult to describe, it is different from seeing lover’s smile. I guess you have to be a father to understand what I mean.

I think of our Father in heaven. Is He also happy while He sees us smiling to Him? If the words “Heavenly Father” have any indication, then I believe that He has the same feeling as we earthly fathers.

Suddenly, I find that being a father is such a privilege! Father would never match mother in terms of intimacy with children. Mothers have babies, give birth, and feed them with milk; fathers couldn’t do these. But when father tries to love his children with all he could, he is using a privilege – he has the opportunity to know how Heavenly Father loves us.