THE FAITHFULNESS OF MY FATHER'S HAND

here are moments when God opens our eyes to something we should have known all truths we’ve heard before but never truly grasped. Recently, I had such a moment. I realized that while I had often spoken about my father, I had never truly honored him.

Honoring our father and mother is not a suggestion but it is a commandment from God, the first with a promise:

“Honor your father and mother…that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.” (Ephesians 6:2–3)

The Lord impressed on me that this is not conditional. There’s no asterisk that says only if you think they deserve it. God asks us to honor them because He knows the blessing it brings not only to us, but to our households.

My father was not a believer until the last moments of his life. Yet, his character taught me much about God.

As a young man in Canada, he dreamed of going to university—he excelled in science and math and wanted to become an engineer or architect. But when war broke out in Europe, and he learned of the atrocities being committed, he left his studies to serve. At 19, he volunteered for the Air Force, flew dangerous missions over enemy territory, and survived being shot down twice. Out of 28 crews stationed at his base, only 8 returned.

He gave up his dream so others could live free. And in that, I see a glimpse of my Heavenly Father who gave His only Son so that we might have eternal life (John 3:16).

My father often told me, “Life is not just about living for yourself.”

This is the heart of true Christianity, living for the benefit of others, even at personal cost. Philippians 2 reminds us that Christ humbled Himself, taking the form of a servant, and gave His life for us.

When the war ended, my father returned home to a struggling economy. His dream of higher education was gone, but he worked in a copper mine and began saving what little he could not for himself, but for my future. I didn’t appreciate it then, but now I see the beauty of that sacrifice.

Lessons from My Father’s Character

• His word was his bond. If he promised to do something, he did it no matter the cost.

• He was punctual. If he said two o’clock, he meant exactly two o’clock.

• He was faithful. To my mother, to his family, and to what he believed was right.

In these qualities, I learned something of the faithfulness of God’s hand; His promises are sure, and His timing is perfect.

For 26 years I prayed for my father. In his later years, cancer struck. It was painful and humbling, but God used it to break down walls. One day, after helping him with the most personal of needs, I asked if I could share what it meant to be born again. For the first time, he listened.

Shortly after, I returned to see him. When I asked if he’d been praying, he said, “All night.” That day, he prayed with me to receive Christ. It was the sweetest hour I ever spent with my father. His last words to me were, “I’ll be there” meaning he would greet me at Heaven’s gate.

A Call to Obedience and Healing

Perhaps your father was absent, hurtful, or unfaithful. Honoring him may feel impossible. But God calls us to obey His word, not because our parents were perfect, but because obedience brings blessing.

Forgiveness frees us from bitterness. Honoring even if it’s simply finding one good thing to say aligns us with God’s heart. The promise is clear:

• It will go well with you.

• You will live long on the earth.

I wish I had honored my father sooner. Yet I believe God has told him in Heaven what I say now: Thank you, Dad, for your sacrifice, your faithfulness, and your example.