One Cliche with a Bite of Truth.

Unfortunately, for all of us sons, the cliche statement "the apple doesn't fall far from the tree" is for the most part, painfully true and we are a lot more like our fathers than we ever may want to be. My dad used to always say to me that he "never wanted to be like his father," yet with his actions he would do just as his father did to him, to me. Discouragement and a spirit of criticism prevailed all throughout my childhood years, through high school, and even up to about a year ago and placed in me a severe lack of confidence resulting in much insecurity and a huge problem with performance. It wasn't until my father was diagnosed with cancer (at the end summer just before the Fall 2007 semester) that he began to see areas of his own brokenness and lack of forgiveness (harboring bitterness) toward his earthy father that he began to realize his need of letting God become a Father to him so that healing within himself could take place and restoration in his relationship with me might be possible. Jesus is more than willing to reconcile us to God, for He has already done so upon our believing in what He has done for us on the cross through faith in Him, and He is more than capable of reconciling us to any person where there might be much damage and destruction, if in the end it brings much glory to Himself. It's all in His timing and it's all about Him; for His glory. I'm so thankful that we have a Father in heaven who, no matter what our earthy father may be like, is always able to show us His love and provide for us the comfort and confidence we need in ways that we most need it, through His son, the Savior that has already done more than enough to make us perfect, without spot or blemish, in the sight of a holy God.


-burton 261e