I Thessalonians 2:11
“For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children,”
Paul was fatherly in his manner when he dealt with the Thessalonians. What an honor. What does it look like to be fatherly?
A famous tv father from the 60’s was Ward Cleaver. he was the father from the show Leave It To Beaver. He was patient, kind, wise and had a quiet strength. The family had a sense that things would be ok, because of both parents.
Every episode the boys got into some type of trouble. Ward never really got angry. He patiently and with care helped them with their dilemmas. They weren’t yelled at. They didn’t come home to a drunk father. He loved and supported them.
A father will need to discipline at times. Paul had to be so with the Corinthians. There was immoral behavior tolerated by that church. His first letter to them was corrective. A father will take that role on occasion. It’s not rejecting.
A parents discipline rescues a child. Proverbs 19:18 says, “Discipline your son while there is hope, And do not desire his death.” When young people get into their teen years they have the potential to get into destructive behavior. Good parenting in the younger years builds wisdom and restraint within. People are fallible, thus problems occur. A disciplining parent is a loving one.
How does this focus on fatherhood help us to relate to God the Father? The traits assigned to Ward Cleaver certainly apply. He is patient, kind, wise and has quiet strength. We all have our father image within. These traits should mold this.
Some have father wounds. A poor father does much damage to a child that lasts a life time. It’s not irreparable. The Lord wants to heal us. He also wants us to break the chain of passing on poor behavior down through the generations.
Lord, thanks for Paul’s fatherly example. Help us to be better parents. We also may have a fatherly role in the lives of others. Finally, help us to see You as our father. Correct and heal our father wounds