This question hits home, it is very personal. One of my
earliest childhood memories is staring in a mirror in the bathroom at school
and thinking, “Even though no one loves me, I know that God loves me.” I
was about seven years old at the time. My evaluation was half-right. God loved
me. However, I had misinterpreted my situation at home. Kids do that. Adults
do that too. You see, my father had descended into mental illness. So even
though my dad lived at home, he wasn't there emotionally for me or my
siblings. There was a lot of stress and verbal fighting between my mom and
dad, particularly the night before. From their fight I surmised that my
parents didn’t love me. It wasn’t true. Yet, it was true for me at the
time. So it didn’t matter if it was true or not. I took that thought in and
allowed it to shape how I thought about myself. I believed I was unlovable.
Yet, even so, I knew God loved me! I am very thankful that God gave me a
glimpse of his love as a young child. I am grateful he never allowed me to
forget that moment! I think it is one of the many reasons I have a heart for
children’s ministry today.
As I thought about how to answer this question of ideas for a good Father’s Day
lesson, my first thought was, "point them to the Heavenly Father." Is this not our task as children’s ministers, regardless of whether children come from broken or healthy homes?
