For about 30 years now I have had the privilege to be called a father, even dad by certain former little people that have now grown up for the most part. I am not alone in my experience as countless men share the calling. How important is this incredible opportunity?
My opportunity started out with one little boy and grew to three boys and five girls and now three grandchildren, soon to be five. It is not mine to enjoy alone. It would not be anything without my companion. Her divine nature as a mother and woman never ceases to amaze me. Our time together has brought a seemingly endless opportunity to watch unique individuals grow and develop under our care as their parents. It has been a learning experience beyond compare for us and them and still is. While I set out to count my blessings as a father I have to ask the question. What is fatherhood without motherhood? Can it even exist without motherhood?
Raising children can be an all consuming occupation so much so that it is possible to take for granted while it is happening. When the opportunity to reflect on it arrives it can be amazing. I try to make it a point to reflect more often and appreciate the moments when they are happening.
I think the greatest calling in life is to raise the next generation of parents. Whether as a parent, aunt, uncle or friend it is something that must happen to keep love at the center of our relationships. We try our best to teach and love but we are still learning in the process ourselves. Why does God want us to have this experience?
What does fatherhood mean when speaking of God and His title "Father in Heaven"? As I have asked that question in religious discussion I have heard from some that it is not a literal fatherhood. It is only figurative because he is our creator and while the title father is used it is only a manner of speaking because such language is biblical.
I always imagined and do believe that our relationship is more personal and that Heavenly Father is a title that is very literal to both us and to Jesus Christ and that we are God the Father's spiritual offspring in a divine and significant way.
Fatherhood is about creation and teaching and it is inseparably and eternally connected to motherhood. I think and ponder on what it means to be eternally and inseparably bound in perfect union as co-creators with God. A perfect union not because of us but because that is how he designed it. His parenthood is divine, but is he a single parent? While the imperfections of mortal life have certainly given way to difficult and confusing circumstances and ideologies that can cloud an eternal perspective, we must see the truth of our intimate relationships.
Parenting and creation of life is naturally served and set forth in a pattern of an observable nature. Our pattern is set forth in the image of God. Think about what that means. It is to be a parents with children, teaching them truth and inspiring them to observe and learn the laws of life even the laws of eternal life.
One question to think about is when did our relationship with Deity begin? It is a common belief that a part of our nature is spirit creation and united with a physical body. There is scriptural teaching to this effect. When did this creation of our spiritual nature come about?
I am only aware of two basic beliefs regarding this subject. One is that God created our spirit instantly out of nothing to give our body life with no significant eternal purpose. The other is that our spirits and intelligence existed prior to earthly birth and have been enjoined for an important eternal purpose for spiritual growth.
If we are eternal beings on a journey that will be everlasting it makes more sense to me, that although we may not understand how, that the part of us that makes us unique and different from everyone else, our spiritual intelligence, has always existed. Our spirit is a literal natural creation flowing from eternal truth from a divine and sacred relationship. We have a spiritual DNA endowed from God that we should become aware of.
If we look at our creation and existence, one question about creation and fatherhood should be asked again. What is it without motherhood and womanhood? When the creation of the world was finished, they the Gods, (It says let us, plural, there were two and I understand that to be the Father and the Son) then created man in their own image and likeness. That creation included both man and woman. Based on this and other scripture passages the likeness of God cannot be a single man by himself.
The Genesis story makes the nature of our relationships perfectly clear. He, the man, is not complete without woman and neither is she complete without man. The "image" of God is described as "male and female". That is how we exist, now and forever. Alone neither can create any living thing but together they can create after their own image and likeness. This is an endowment from our creator. This is an eternal truth. It does not change.
Think of the greatest birth ever recorded that we celebrate and revere as Christians. Our eternal hope is based on a sacred birth which never could have occurred without the divine power and gift of motherhood.
Links to Articles on Parenthood and eternal families and marriage
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