A Daddy to Remember

Have you ever heard someone ask you how your earthly father, your dad, reflected or pointed to our heavenly father? This has been a question that stumped me for many years. The reason I could not answer that question with certainty, was because I felt I didn’t know. I did not how to answer because I did not think I knew my father well enough to know how he pointed to the love of my heavenly father. To be honest, I did not know my heavenly father most of my life either, but now I do, and in some miraculous way, I see my earthy father too, as with fresh eyes. It is through faith that I now see, and that same faith has renewed my relationships of the past and restored memories that I will forever treasure.

Today marks a very sad day for me and my siblings, as it the anniversary of my father’s death. I write this today in remembrance of the man I thought I never knew. You see my parents divorced when I was very young, and I moved across the country far away from my father. This physical distance brought mental and emotional distance as well. I was fortunate to visit him several summers along with my brother and sister, and those were treasured times, ones that I know now to be some of the greatest memories that I hold deep in my heart.

However, I have recently discovered those were not the only memories I have, there is one that has changed everything for me, and it is through my faith I have grown to see. I have discovered a treasure that was almost forgotten. I have come to know the healing and redemptive power of Jesus Christ, and in that, I have seen a deep and thorough restoration that is timeless. What was once lost has been found and restored. I thought I did not know my father, and after his death, I thought I never would., but I was wrong. I overlooked something beautiful in the heart of a little girl. A memory so hidden, I almost missed it. At first, I was unsure of its validity, until I investigated the facts and found the truth. I remember my father, and I have a beautiful picture of a man that I called daddy, and he did show me the love of God in one small moment.

I was about three years old, at least I think, and I was fighting sleep. what three-year-old doesn’t? There seemed to be a lot going on that evening, and there were a lot of people, voices, and commotion about, but then again this was the norm for a  large family of eleven. I either was fighting sleep because I was afraid of missing out, or I was just plain afraid. Either way, it was my dad who would put me to sleep and in so doing would impart a beautiful memory that I would later discover and treasure.

As my dad took the time to put his little restless girl to sleep, he ensured that I felt comforted, safe, and loved. He reassured me by calling “Ame”, which is short for Anne Marie. This was an enduring nickname that I have come to treasure and love and one that my father made up. I can still hear his voice saying my name, and it still reassures me that I was his little girl and dearly loved.

I am sure I was frightened and did not want to be alone, so he stayed and comforted me while singing a song that he frequently sang, ” Good-night Irene.” I fact-checked that and found out from my older sister that my father sang that quite a bit. I find it funny that I remember his singing and a song I know nothing about. All I know is one night, my Daddy took the time to comfort me by singing over me.

While my father was singing over me, it was his presence that brought a settling within my mind and heart. I remember the room clearly, it was my parent’s room that had a particleboard door that let all the outside light stream through. It was flimsy and did not hold back the outside noise either, but none of that mattered, because I had my dad with me and in his presence, I felt safe, loved, and content. Now, this allows a little restless, and scared girl to fall fast asleep.

You may be wondering how this memory points to our heavenly Father, let me tell you.  It was being his and hearing him calling me “Ame”, my name, that allowed me to feel loved. If we are listening that is exactly what our Father in heaven is doing. He is calling us by our name and claiming we are his, loved, and treasured.  We see this in Isaiah 43:1, “But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.” This is true, God loves us as His own and demonstrated that in His Son Jesus Christ.  John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

The singing brought comfort that set me at ease. In Zephaniah 3:17 it says, “The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.” God, our Father in heaven singing over us in delight? That is comforting, and how in one small moment my dad demonstrated that.

In all of this, I came to realize who my dad was, and he was mine. He loved me and all of his children and I am sure each one of my siblings can find one if not many examples of the loving man he was. It was only a moment in time, and so long ago, but to a little girl who would end up with very few moments, it is everything!

My dad showed me that I was accepted, cared for, loved, and treasured and in that, He showed me, God! Now, I live with open eyes and blessed life! Thank you, daddy, you are loved and missed greatly. Thank You, God, for this and so, so much more!

Blessings,

          Anne Blanchette

Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash