The Upper Room Daily Devotional of Nashville, Tennessee, United States "Making the Call" for Wednesday, 13 September 2017 - Read Ephesians 6:1-4-------
Ephesians 6:1 Children, what you should do in union with the Lord is obey your parents, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother” — this is the first commandment that embodies a promise — 3 “so that it may go well with you, and you may live long in the Land.”[Ephesians 6:3 Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 5:16]
4 Fathers, don’t irritate your children and make them resentful; instead, raise them with the Lord’s kind of discipline and guidance.
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Those who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31 (NRSV))
Throughout my childhood I knew little more of my father than his name. One night I began to ask God for direction. As I prayed, I began to think of forgiveness and the importance of honoring my parents. I realized that my fear of rejection had robbed me of the opportunity to experience the joy of a healthy father-daughter relationship. My inability to forgive, fueled by negative perceptions, was preventing reconciliation.
I picked up the phone many times but never made the call. I continued to wonder whether it was the right time and worried that I would be judged for not reaching out sooner. So much time had passed, and we had both missed out on important milestones in each other’s lives. Yet, I couldn’t help but wonder how it would feel if one of us passed on and never got the chance to say “I love you.” With that in mind, I called him. After 34 years of separation, I finally got to reconnect with my father.
Over time our relationship has improved. We communicate nearly every day. My father and I are both grateful for the opportunity to witness the power of God in our lives. This new chapter has helped me to know that God has the power to make all things new.
Read more from the author, here.
More from Scoie Green
Dear Readers:
It is such a pleasure to read your comments on how my story has touched your life. Unfortunately, it doesn't have a happy ending. However, I can rejoice in knowing that I was obedient to God and honored his word.
Here is my response:
I was shocked by the outcome of my story. How could a father betray
his own daughter?
When I submitted this article, things were going so well. It was like a dream come true. For several months, we talked on a daily basis and prepared for the future.
Then, on the spur of the moment, things began to turn for the worse.
The nights became longer and the days more dreadful. I suffered in
silence at the pain of being molested by my father.
I would often ask myself “Why must I bare this burden alone?” No, it’s true- we’re never alone with God. But keeping a secret and being trapped in a body of disbelief is a slow death.
After 15 months, I finally gained the strength to leave. I realized he needed help that I couldn’t provide. We never spoke again.
The Author: Scoie Green (Texas, USA)
Thought for the Day: I want to watch God do a new thing in my life.
Prayer: Dear God, help us to trust that you are working in our lives even when there seems to be no progress. Amen.
Prayer focus: Adults reconnecting with their parents
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4 Fathers, don’t irritate your children and make them resentful; instead, raise them with the Lord’s kind of discipline and guidance.
-------
Those who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31 (NRSV))
Throughout my childhood I knew little more of my father than his name. One night I began to ask God for direction. As I prayed, I began to think of forgiveness and the importance of honoring my parents. I realized that my fear of rejection had robbed me of the opportunity to experience the joy of a healthy father-daughter relationship. My inability to forgive, fueled by negative perceptions, was preventing reconciliation.
I picked up the phone many times but never made the call. I continued to wonder whether it was the right time and worried that I would be judged for not reaching out sooner. So much time had passed, and we had both missed out on important milestones in each other’s lives. Yet, I couldn’t help but wonder how it would feel if one of us passed on and never got the chance to say “I love you.” With that in mind, I called him. After 34 years of separation, I finally got to reconnect with my father.
Over time our relationship has improved. We communicate nearly every day. My father and I are both grateful for the opportunity to witness the power of God in our lives. This new chapter has helped me to know that God has the power to make all things new.
Read more from the author, here.
More from Scoie Green
Dear Readers:
It is such a pleasure to read your comments on how my story has touched your life. Unfortunately, it doesn't have a happy ending. However, I can rejoice in knowing that I was obedient to God and honored his word.
Here is my response:
I was shocked by the outcome of my story. How could a father betray
his own daughter?
When I submitted this article, things were going so well. It was like a dream come true. For several months, we talked on a daily basis and prepared for the future.
Then, on the spur of the moment, things began to turn for the worse.
The nights became longer and the days more dreadful. I suffered in
silence at the pain of being molested by my father.
I would often ask myself “Why must I bare this burden alone?” No, it’s true- we’re never alone with God. But keeping a secret and being trapped in a body of disbelief is a slow death.
After 15 months, I finally gained the strength to leave. I realized he needed help that I couldn’t provide. We never spoke again.
The Author: Scoie Green (Texas, USA)
Thought for the Day: I want to watch God do a new thing in my life.
Prayer: Dear God, help us to trust that you are working in our lives even when there seems to be no progress. Amen.
Prayer focus: Adults reconnecting with their parents
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