✝️ Fatherhood that reflects your Heavenly Father

Good morning, my brothers! Father’s Day can stir up complicated emotions for most of us. Whether you’re celebrating or struggling with memories of your own dad, there’s a deeper truth we need to grasp: we have a perfect Heavenly Father whose love never wavers. Today we learn how understanding our identity as beloved sons transforms how we father others … with grace instead of guilt, presence instead of perfection. Let’s go!

This week’s manly topics (6-min read):

🔎 PERSPECTIVE Let’s get you ready for Father’s Day by pointing your eyes up to your Heavenly Father. He’s got a special message for you.
📰  NEWS We continue our shoulder recovery series (part 2) and revisit the 1980s concept of “cross-training” shoes.
😭 MISSED OUR 6/12 EVENT? That is a shame but you can find out how to watch the replay below👇 it/s the next best thing to having been there!

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PERSPECTIVE
Fatherhood that reflects your Heavenly Father

I have a friend named Hank, who always refers to God the Father as “Daddy.” At first, I didn’t understand it and thought it was weird. Until I heard the backstory: Hank never had an earthly father. He was raised in an orphanage. When he came to Christ, he came to his heavenly Father and saw Him first in His glory, but also as his Daddy. He finally had a Father, the Father.

Hank’s story reminds me how many of us carry complicated relationships with our earthly fathers … and how those complications can cloud our understanding of both fatherhood and sonship. Whether we’re in the thick of raising young kids, cheering from the sidelines as our grown children carve their paths, or grandfathering with wisdom and presence, most of us know the bittersweet reality of father-son relationships.

Some of us are grieving. A lost child. A father we never really had. Or the pain of looking back and wishing we’d done it differently.

No matter where Father's Day finds you, there's something Hank understands that we all need to grasp: You have a Father. Not just a cosmic being. Not just a distant deity. You have an Abba—a Dad. A perfect, present, powerful Father who doesn't walk away, doesn't wound, and doesn't withhold His love from you—even on your worst days.

And it is from this reality that our ability, wisdom, and strength to father and grandfather well come from. Our heavenly Father is the foundation we can stand on to be the men our kids and grandkids need.

The Prodigal’s Father

One of the most powerful pictures of fatherhood Jesus ever painted was in Luke 15. A young man disrespects his father, demands his inheritance, and takes off for a life of reckless independence. You know the story: he ends up broke, starving, and ashamed. We usually view this from the son’s perspective.

But the part that challenges me is this:

He didn't stand on his porch, arms folded across his chest, head tilted in judgment and disgust. He ran to his son. Jewish men in that time didn't run. But this father did.

That’s the kind of father worth becoming. A man who never gives up on his kids. Who doesn’t lead with shame but welcomes with open arms. A man who pursues his kids whether the affection is returned or not. Who mirrors God's mercy more than his own pride. A man who understands he's the adult in the relationship, not the child (regardless of his kids’ age).

The Father Who Is Always Near

Paul writes:

That word Abba isn’t formal. It's relational and intimate. It's “Dad.” “Papa.” It's the kind of word you use when you're not afraid to be honest. When you know you're loved unconditionally. It’s the term for God that my friend Hank clings to…and so can we.

That’s how God relates to you and me, not as a judge tapping His foot, but as a Father waiting with open arms. He sees your attempts. He knows your regrets. And He still calls you son. He loves you unconditionally, regardless of your failure.

This kind of fatherhood isn’t something we manufacture: it’s something we need to mirror. If we want to lead our families well, it starts with remembering that we are sons first. Sons of a good, gracious, never-giving-up kind of Father: Abba, Daddy.

An Earthly Example: Fred Rogers

Fred Rogers (yes, Mr. Rogers) wasn’t just a children’s television host. He was a quiet warrior for the souls of young people. What made him such a powerful influence wasn’t just his cardigan or his songs. It was how he treated every person he met with sacred dignity.

There’s a moment when a young boy with cerebral palsy came to see him. The boy wanted to meet Mr. Rogers more than anything. And when they met, Mr. Rogers didn’t just shake his hand. He got down to eye level, looked him in the face, and said, “Would you do something for me? Would you pray for me?”

That boy, who had always been the one needing help, suddenly became the one offering it. Mr. Rogers wasn’t putting on a show. He saw that child the way God sees His sons … full of value and capable of giving love, not just receiving it. He met that boy right where he was.

That’s fatherhood. Seeing beyond behavior to identity, the unique and special identity each child, each person has, because God gives it. Speaking life into your children. Reminding them that they matter … and not because of what they do, but because of who they are, who God says they are.

What This Means for Us

Whether you’re a dad or a granddad, biological or spiritual, the way you father leaves a legacy. The way you always pursue their best. The way you love your kids, regardless. The way you talk to your kids. The way you show up when they fail. The way you say, “I’m proud of you.” The way you say, “I'm sorry.” The way you model humility, strength, and dependence on God.

It all speaks.

And the good news? It's never too late to start being the kind of father and grandfather who reflects the heart of our Heavenly Father.

Three Fatherhood Steps Forward

Here are three things you can do this Father’s Day week:

1. Lead with Grace, Not Guilt
Just like the father of the prodigal, be quick to forgive. Don’t lead with lectures. Lead with love. Correction is needed, but grace opens the door first.

2. Speak Life Daily
Your words have power. Tell your kids and grandkids (even your grown ones), “I love you,” “I’m proud of you,” and “I see God working in you.” Give the specific reason why. Not always performance-based, but because of their inherent value.

3. Live Like a Son, Not Just a Dad
Spend time with God the Father, your Abba, your Daddy. Daily. Don't just check boxes, soak in His love. You can’t give what you haven’t received.

Final Word

Men, fatherhood isn't just a role: it’s a reflection. We’re mirrors of the God who calls Himself “Father.” It’s a high calling. And it’s one we don’t carry alone.

So, whether you’re thriving or struggling in your fatherhood, don’t forget; you are first and forever a beloved son.

Like Hank discovered in that orphanage, we finally have a Father, the Father. Let’s be fathers who run with grace, who love with patience, and who point the next generation not to ourselves, but to Abba.

Happy Father’s Day, my brothers.

THIS JUST IN
📣 NEWS FROM AROUND THE WEB 📣 

Training
“For physical training is of some value ....” 1 Timothy 4:8

SHOULDERS SPOTLIGHT SERIES: 🧵 2/3 – Your old family doctor’s advice to “just rest it” isn’t wrong, but it’s incomplete. Modern sports medicine shows that controlled movement beats complete rest for shoulder recovery in men over 50. Complete immobilization beyond 48-72 hours leads to muscle atrophy, joint stiffness, and slower healing that actually prolongs your recovery. Active recovery works better because gentle, progressive movement maintains blood flow, prevents deconditioning, and guides healing tissues to rebuild stronger. Think of it as the difference between a rusted hinge and one that's regularly oiled and moved. Research consistently demonstrates that structured exercise therapy achieves 70-85% success rates for shoulder problems in older adults, compared to much lower success with rest alone. The key is gradual progression. Start with gentle range-of-motion exercises, advance to light strengthening, then gradually return to normal activities. This isn't about pushing through pain: it's about smart movement that accelerates healing. Next week: Your shoulder’s active recovery roadmap.

Gear
“The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them.” Genesis 3:21

Remember buying your first shoes in the 1980s? That’s when Nike debuted cross-trainers, blending cushioning for running, stability for lifting, and grip for sports. Research confirms they reduce injury risk for recreational athletes, perfect for mature guys staying active without a shoe closet to rival their wife’s. The made-in-the-USA New Balance Minimus TR v2 (login for 20% off) delivers with an 8mm drop, durable Vibram outsole, and snug fit for stability. Look for moderate cushioning, tough outsoles, and a secure fit to save money and honor your body.