This week, we are presented with readings for the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity. Hearing about how those of biblical history encounter God the Father through Moses, the Son in Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, my mind drifted toward how I could best help my children encounter God in their lives.
Embracing Fallibility in Fatherhood
As I reflected on this, I coped with my own limitations as a person, one who is fallible and prone to sin. Yet, it didn’t deter me – acknowledging the reality of my situation was almost freeing in a way, as I could focus my thoughts on what I can do realistically, not what I could do if I was perfect.
Aside from fielding their curiosities about religion as they grow up, I fell back on what I do that can be an example of three different aspects of God’s Love for us: mercy, sacrifice, and encouragement.
Mercy: Setting Loving Guardrails
Moses and his followers repeatedly stepped out of line with God’s Commandments, and yet they were always welcomed back. God accepted that they would fail, and though His Mighty anger and wrath were on display throughout the age, Moses promised that this “stiff-necked people” would come back repentant.
So in showing love to my children through mercy, not just punishment or forgiveness, but a loving approach to instructing and setting guardrails. Yes, my children will test the extreme limits of my patience, or go from parent to parent trying to get their way, or any other number of ways to upset me with their actions, and yet, my love for them will never diminish. No matter how many times that I have to follow behind them to clean up messes, I still will, but not without explaining why it’s important.
Sacrifice: The Natural Flow of a Father’s Love
God’s sacrifice through Jesus’s Passion, is evidence of the greatness of His Love. The Sacrifice that Jesus made through His Death and Resurrection transcends all ages and transgressions. It’s beyond any parallel in its effect, so I can only imitate the meaning with what I am and with what I have.
And while mercy tests my patience and grows harder with each occurrence, I feel that sacrifice comes more naturally. It flows from love, from the heart. There is less mental willpower to take that first step, it’s just what I do. When it comes to my time spent at soccer practices, the school field trips, the sleepless nights soothing them, I don’t think of what I missed, I only think of how best to be a father in that moment.
Encouragement: Fanning the Flame of Faith
And that finally brings us to encouragement. Last week, I wrote about the effect of the Holy Spirit, being emboldened by the fire of faith. I want to be that positive force, to help spark that light or fan that flame for my children. I want to encourage them in all that they do, not to avoid frustration, but to have the will to keep improving, as family members, as Catholics, as students, as teammates, and as people. I want to inspire in any way that I can to help them along their own paths.
I think of all the help provided to me along my journey, by God and those I’ve been fortunate enough to have in my life, and I hope that I can be the example and the father that I desire to be. And I pray that I am able to be their father for a long while, that my time here can last as long as possible so that I can impact them to the best of my abilities.