When the Father's Day cards don't fit

I can't tell you how many times I've stood there in the greeting card aisle, opening one Father's Day card after another and none of them seemed fit to send to my dad.

And inevitably a lump would begin to form in my throat as I imagined what could have been, what it would have been like to have a father like all the cards seem to describe -- one who protected me, was always there for me, modeled for me a life of integrity, created a loving family environment for me to grow up in, was someone I could look up to -- but that's not the dad I got in this earthly life, anyway.

But, the good news is, I do have a father who is all those things and so much more!

God adopted me as His child and exchanged my ugly, broken, earthly family legacy for His perfect one.

In case there's anyone else who feels the Father's Day cards don't fit, I'd like to share 13 Bible verses:

Ephesians 1:5
"He predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His will,"

Revelation 21:7
"The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son."

Galatians 3:26
For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.

1 John 3:1
See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know Him.

Ephesians 2:19
So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,

Galatians 4:5-7
To redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.

Romans 9:26
“And in the very place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ there they will be called ‘sons of the living God.’”

Romans 9:8
This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring.

Romans 8:14-19
For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. ...

John 1:12
But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God,

John 1:13
Who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

Matthew 5:45
So that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven.

Proverbs 14:26
In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence, and His children will have a refuge.


Find more Thankful Thursday, Thursday Thirteen.