When I was a teenager, I, like probably many of you, knew I had all of the answers and that my parents especially my Dad could learn some things. I remember one night a heated conversation turned into an argument between my father and I. I remember going to bed feeling completely misunderstood with tears rolling down my face, onto my pillow. Of course now, close to twenty years later, I don’t remember what the argument was about but I will never forget what happened the next morning.
As I was dressing for the day, I found a note in my dresser, with the handwriting of my Dad. It read: ” Dear Hannah, I am so sorry for the way I treated you tonight. I love you and even though it is impossible for me to comprehend, I know our Father in Heaven loves you even more perfectly than I do.” It went on a little more, but those are the words I have never been able to forget. “Our Father in Heaven loves you even more perfectly than I do”. I knew my Dad loved me deeply and with his whole heart, so to think that my Father in Heaven loved me even more, put everything in perspective for me.
As life has happened and trials have come, I still hold tight to the knowledge that I have a Dad and Mom that love me but even more, I have a Father in Heaven that loves me and is completely accessible anytime, anyplace.
I can honestly say that that knowledge is one of the greatest gifts my Dad gave to me. It taught me how to love and be loved. Because I had been taught to look, I could see confirmation of His love everywhere around me.
It’s a principle I try to share with my girls in those quiet moments when love is palpable. I want them to know that even when I am not around, there is Someone who is always there and who loves them even more. Their loving Father in Heaven.
Hannah Anderson Stevenson is married and has three girls (two and under). She is originally from Reno/Sparks, NV where she met her husband Jeff. She now resides in Utah. She enjoys her girls, reading, sewing and drawing. She has a pattern shop and has just started a new venture: Custom Paper Dolls. You can find them here. She blogs here and here.
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do you know…that was (and often still is) the hardest thing for me to have learned or to remember. My dad died when I was 4 months old. My stepdad provided very well for us financially but had so many other issues that understanding the love of a father, let alone a Heavenly Father, was something I had to work on…and something I work to remember.
What a wise and wonderful father you had. We truly are blessed to have a Father in Heaven who loves us so very much. What an amazing blessing that is. Thank you for your post!
I love it! This is an amazing thing to tell our children! To embed in their hearts forever. Thank you for sharing and reminding.
What an awesome sentiment! Thanks for a great story and a great post. I find that reminding my 9 year old that His Father loves him so much more than anyone else ever could is helping him navigate the (apparently) difficult age of 9 to 10. Thanks.
It’s been said that a child’s, especially daughter’s, view of Heavenly Father is extremely similar to what they view their earthly father as- vengeful, punishing, compassionate, loving, etc.
I’m SO thankful I have a father who is kind and loving, but requires much of me. It has really helped me feel close to my Heavenly Father. I really hope my husband and I can be as successful in helping our boys to know their Heavenly Father loves them.
Beautiful post. Thank you for sharing!
What a sweet message.
What a great father! sometimes it is just the simplest of words that heal – I hope you saved that lovely note
It’s this knowledge that continues to get me through! Thanks for sharing this!
What a great lesson to learn. I remember some of thfights with my step-dad because I thought I knew everything. 🙂
Wonderful! Thank you for sharing this!!
I had a hard time with my stepdad growing up and I still do. It has taken me years to try to learn to trust my Heavenly Father. Recently my biological dad gave me a blessing in which he talked about overcoming my viewing of H.F. like an earthly father. It really changed my outlook on things. I’m still working on my issues, but I have hope that someday I’ll really be able to chillax and trust. Hopefully soon 🙂
I really loved this post. What a great father to not only say what he did but to apologize… how often as the parent we do not. Thank you.