My youngest daughter and I went out a couple of days ago. On our return, she let slip that her she and her siblings have a suprise for me. She was quick however to add that it was a secret and that I wasn't meant to know.

I know that with Fathers' day being around the corner, the suprise would have something to do with that. When I asked if it had to do with Fathers' day, she told me, "It's not what you think, daddy"

Her expression was a give away but I pretended she had me fooled.
On Sunday, when we returned from Church, they all gave me their suprises packages, handmade cards and poems written to wish me Happy Fathers day.

As I recieved the 'gifts' and hugged them, I thought of those who no longer had earthly fathers. To be precise, I thought of the families of the plane crash which occured in Nigeria a couple of weeks ago. Fathers who were on their way home to their children but never made it. Children who were expecting their fathers but never knew that he was never going to come home.

My heart went out to those children, wondering how they would feel as others celebrare Fathers' day. They would probably imagine what it would be like if 'daddy' was around. They would probably remember how they celebrated the last Fathers' day and battle to come to terms with the fact that they would never be able to celebrate with him anymore.

As my mind mulled over this, I thought about God, our Heavenly Father. For those who know Him as Father, it is a lot easier coping with the loss of our earthly father because we know that our heavenly Father will never leave nor forsake us. (Duet 3:16, Hebrews 13:5)

Psalm 68:5, 'A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows is God in His holy dwelling.'
If you have lost your earthly father, be encouraged! God is your eternal Father! He is always there for you. He does not go on a trip neither does he neglet us. We can be sure that if we draw close to Him, we will find comfort and hope in Him. He loves like no other father can!

God is so sensitive to the plight of the fatherless. He warned the children of Israel, '"You must not exploit a widow or an orphan. If you exploit them in any way and they cry out to me, then I will certainly hear their cry. My anger will blaze against you, and I will kill you with the sword. Then your wives will be widows and your children fatherless." (Exodus 22: 22- 24)

For those who have our fathers alive, please honour and appreciate them while they are here because there is no guarrantee that they will be there for you tomorrow. Just as children are gifts to their parents, parents are also gifts to their children and should be appreciated as such.

As we celebrate another Fathers' day, please spare a thought and a prayer for those who are greiving the loss of their fathers. May they find joy and encouragement in the knowledge that God is the Father who is their for them always.

Steve Popoola is the editor of Biblepraise Newsletter and the owner of Biblepraise Fellowship Online at http://www.biblepraise.org. He lives in London where he works as an IT professional. He serves in the ministerial team of his local church as well as in the music ministry. He is the Moderator/Editor of Biblepraise Newsletter. He can be reached through His email address, steve@biblepraise.org