Not everyone looks forward to Father’s Day. For some, it stirs up pain, silence, or memories they would rather not revisit. I’ve come to see something powerful in celebrating our fathers; not because they were perfect, but because they were present in the story of our lives.
Hitting the nail on the head, some fathers walked away. Some made poor choices. But others gave all they could, quietly, without applause. And even those who failed taught us something, whether through love, silence, or their absence.
Fatherhood is not just a social role; it is a divine institution. God, in His wisdom, chose to reveal Himself as a Father, This wasn’t accidental, It was to show us what love, protection, discipline, provision, and legacy look like. While earthly fathers may fall short of this standard, their role still echoes something sacred. They stand as a physical doorway through which God brought us into life. That alone is a cause for gratitude.
Many of us growing up in Ghana can recall the quiet strength of a father who rose early and worked late, the wisdom in a firm word, the unspoken pride in a small success, or even the lessons learned from his failures. Others may not have experienced such blessings, yet somewhere there, the longing for a father’s love reveals the deep place God carved in us for such desire.
It is easy to celebrate perfection, but it is more meaningful to honor the imperfect with understanding and grace. The Bible does not command us to honor only good fathers; it simply says, “Honor your father…” (Exodus 20:12). That command remains, not because all fathers are faultless, but because their role is weighty.
God often works through imperfect fathers to fulfill His perfect plans. Think of Isaac, who favored one son over another; Jacob, who repeated that same pattern; and David, who struggled with passivity in raising his children. Despite their flaws, God called them, blessed them, and wove them into His covenant story. Their weaknesses didn’t disqualify them. God still used them powerfully. In the same way, we must not overlook the value of imperfect fathers. If God doesn’t write them off, neither should we.
Let us shift our perspective. Rather than measuring our fathers only by their mistakes, we can as well choose to remember the life they gave, the doors they opened, and the seeds they planted. Even a distant or broken father can teach us endurance, mercy, and the power of forgiveness.
This Father’s Day, let us extend gratitude where there has been love, and grace where there has been lack. Let us appreciate the visible and invisible labors of the men who tried their best, or who are still learning how to. In doing so, we reflect the heart of our Heavenly Father, who always sees beyond shortcomings and loves unconditionally.
Celebrating fathers is not just about them. It is about healing our hearts, restoring honor, and strengthening families for the generations to come.
Written: Eld. Blessing Asimah
Abetifi District (Kwahu Ridge Area)
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