The month of June holds two dates important in my life. One, the 20th is my birthday which I have always enjoyed, and the other is Father’s Day which I dreaded for most of my life. Father’s Day was traumatic because I did not have a good earthly father, and my view of the holiday as well as all earthly fathers was somewhat tarnished.  The last time I saw my father as a child, “You Are My Sunshine” was playing on the phonograph. I was about 8 or 9 years old. A little girl who loved her daddy dearly. Yet he said he was leaving my life forever, as the music on that record filled the room. The last words I heard as we parted were the words of that song, “You are my sunshine, my only sunshine, you make me happy when skies are gray.” I, who once was the sunshine of my daddy’s life, had been replaced with other people, other families, other children. I was no longer the sunshine of his life. My tender heart was broken.  For decades I hated to hear that song played or sung. If it came on the radio, I quickly changed stations. Too many bad memories were loosed by the words and music for me to bear it. Each June for the next 5 or 6 years, I listened to my pastor preach on what a good father should be to his children, realizing all over again, just how badly my father failed to measure up: “A good father provides for his children and honors their mother. A good father is there when their children need him, a good father is faithful and dependable to his family,” I heard over and over again. Father’s Day was an ordeal for me and I was glad when that holiday was over and gone. One Sunday when I was 14, our pastor preached on God the heavenly Father, explaining that Jesus Christ said, “when you have seen me you have seen the Father,” and that everything said about the faithfulness of Christ was true of the Father, too. I couldn’t help but contrast my earthly father with the heavenly One the pastor presented. Everything my earthly father lacked, the heavenly Father provided. He would NEVER leave nor forsake me, He would hold me securely in His hand and not let me fall, He deeply cared for little children and I would be safe in His arms. Hearing of a Shepherd who loved and protected His children penetrated my heart and soul, and I wanted to be a child of His. Pastor quoted Mt 19:14, “But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” When the closing hymn began, I ran forward to offer my young rebellious heart to the Heavenly Father for cleansing. I, who had not felt the warmth of a hug for many years, could feel myself curling up in my newfound Father’s lap with His arms around me. Though the month of June was less painful from then on, I missed my earthly father and wished he could be like my heavenly One. It took a miracle to bring that about, but the Lord did it. At age 65 my father got saved and became my brother-in-Christ. Shortly thereafter––for the first time since he deserted me as a child––I began to call him Dad. For the rest of his life (he died at age 89) I had both an earthly father and a heavenly One. Psalms 30:5 promises, “Weeping may endure for a night, but JOY comes in the morning, ” I no longer turn away when I hear the song, “You Are My Sunshine.” I can even hum and sing it.....because the Joy of that Psalm is mine! The Joy of that Psalm can be yours, too, if you need the unfailing love of a Father. Heb. 13:5b “For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."

Evelyn R. Smith © 2002 Bible Center Church Back To Main Page / Archive of Previous Articles