(a 4 minute read) Reda was wondering about his own father? Then his thoughts quickly drifted to what his stepchildren think of him; “What do they think of me? Have I ever disappointed them? Were they miffed at me when…….? Did they ever think to themselves; maaaan, I thought Reda was better than that!”

It is funny that when questions like this pop in one’s mind, we automatically shift to thinking of all the so called ‘good’ things one has done for his/her children. But regardless of what I have done or not done, and just as I have disappointments in my father, I guarantee you that my children have had disappointments in me. I am sure that out there, there is a very small percentage of children that have never been disappointed in their father, a tiny percentage. The best quote I picked to share with you here is one from Mary Karr; “A dysfunctional family is any family with more than one person in it.” Hope you are laughing out loud right now because you know there is truth to this statement.

Although dysfunctionality can be attributed to the mother or to the siblings, a large amount of dysfunctionality is attributed to fathers; sad but true.

You know what the best line is? When a person is conversing with someone that has had a baaaad relationship with their father, and one says to them, “Don’t think about your relationship with God like your relationship with your father. It is nothing like that. Your FATHER in heaven is very different than your earthly father……………..”

You know what; the only reference that I have and ever will have is my earthly father. Where am I going to dream up this PERFECT father? I cannot imagine it, and I do not think you can either……….. as every earthly father is human, and just by definition, a human will err and disappoint; Period.

To dream up something is just that; it is not REAL. Why are we trying to equate our Lord and Creator to a “Father”? You, the reader, may say, “Because just like my dad, He created me!” My only response is; “My dad did not create me, he simply had intercourse with my mother and barabim baraboom, there is a fetus in the belly. In my opinion, this is not creation. It is simply a consequence to an action. Now creation my friend is indeed the line of business of my Lord and my Maker.”

For thousands of years we’ve referred to the Lord as ‘FATHER’. It is time to rid our Creator from such an inferior, substandard, second rate and mediocre description. I say this with no disrespect to any father or father figure out there. You know what I am talking about here.

Not sure what image you conjure up when you lift your prayer saying ‘Father’. Whatever that image is, please consider the image you will conjure up saying “Lord” “Master” “Designer” “Creator” “King” “Originator”, come on, conjure those images…………. Do You Feel the Difference?

I hope you do and I hope you and I would start addressing the Lord with what we can reference as Majestic, as Splendid, as Royal, as Magnificent, as Grand, as Marvelous and as Wonderful rather than use something that may conjure disappointment. Maybe using ‘FATHER’ is what summons that SPLENDOR, but if it ain’t change it. It is not the label you use, rather it is the image that comes along into your mind that matters no matter what label you may use.             The change will start by you and me, and not by someone else.