Ice Cream and French Fries

“Try it. You’ll like it,” my dad said. Hesitantly, I dipped my french fry into the chocolate ice cream. Salty and sweet, cold and warm all at the same time. It was wonderful. We gobbled up our french fries and ice cream supper, all while talking and enjoying each other’s company. Chocolate shakes and french fries became a regular part of time spent with my dad as a teenager.

As Father’s Day approaches, I am grateful for those special ice cream shake and french fry moments. Thankfully, I have a wonderful father who has strived to honor Jesus with his life and taken time for me, but I know this isn’t always the case. For many, Father’s Day is a reminder of someone who was never there or who caused deep pain. For others, it’s a day of sadness as their father has passed from this life to the next. This holiday can evoke such different emotions depending on the person.

One thing we can all decide to do today, though, is take a few minutes and celebrate Father’s Day with our Heavenly Father. Tell Him what He means to us. Pour out our hearts to Him in a way that we haven’t done in a long time.

Psalm 62:8 (NLT) says, “O my people, trust in Him at all times. Pour out your heart to Him, for God is our refuge.”

Remember the times when we were the closest to Him, when He, indeed, was our refuge. Remember the times when He showed up in amazing ways. The moments when we felt distant or disconnected. Then recall what great lengths He went to draw us back. Remember sweet memories when we were simply walking by faith, step by step, day by day.

Think about the day we accepted Him into our lives and turned away from the world. Remember how He was with us at the births of our children and the day of our marriages, when we became grandmas and grandpas, or even at the death of our loved ones. Now, think of how He has been with us these past few days and what He is doing in our midst as we speak. Even if the season has been tough, let’s thank Him for sustaining us and being good in the midst of suffering and hardship.

Today, yes, make time to celebrate our earthly fathers. Thank them and honor them. But also make sure to stop and praise our Heavenly Father and thank Him for all of the wonderful ice cream and french fry moments we have experienced together.

“The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.” Lamentations 3:22-23 NLT

Let’s celebrate Him today with our words and our lives. And thank Him for everything.

Copyright © 2020 Christy Bass Adams, used with permission.