When my first son was born, I felt a new type of love. I felt, for the first time, the love that a father has for his child. Paternal love rushed in like a flood crashing through the narrows in a gorge. Even with nine months of anticipation, I hadn’t expected the river of emotion that would accompany his birth. I had heard of paternal love and received it, but I had no idea what the experience would be like to be the source of it. I didn’t know that I’d meet a new treasure to cherish, or that I’d feel such a deep devotion for the wellbeing of another person. Of course, I don’t always express this or behave like this. I have two kids now, and I am far from a perfect dad. In fact, I am a broken dad, and I’ve asked for their forgiveness many times for the wrong that I’ve done. Christmas means there is another who loves my kids even more deeply than I do, who doesn’t make the same mistakes I make. Christmas means that someone loves you and me more deeply and more perfectly than any parent can love their kids. In Jesus, we have an Everlasting or Eternal Father. DECEMBER 8 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days. MICAH 5:2 “
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