Ang Diyos na naroroon sa tahanan niyang templo, tumitingin sa ulila’t sanggalang ng mga balo.

Awit 68:5

Napaka-importante ng role ng ama sa buhay natin. Unfortunately, not everyone has experienced love and guidance from an earthly father, for different reasons. Many people carry the wound of fatherlessness, dahil never nilang nakilala ang kanilang biological father, o maaga silang naulila. Meron ding mga taong may abusive na ama, kung kaya naa-associate nila ang earthly father nila with fear or trauma. That is why for countless people, malungkot o masakit sa puso ang Father’s Day.

We have a wonderful heavenly Father who reaches out to us and loves us deeply. Sabi sa Biblia, ang Diyos ay “tumitingin sa ulila’t sanggalang ng mga balo” (Awit 68:5). He is our heavenly Father, the Father to the fatherless. He will never abandon us or abuse us, and His arms will always welcome us in a loving embrace.

Pero may times na naghahanap pa rin tayo ng isang earthly father figure to guide us. Naiintindihan ito ng Panginoon at nakikita Niya tayo. He sees our longing for love, protection, and wisdom. Dahil dito naglagay Siya ng mga tao na matatawag natin na “found fathers” — mga naging ama sa buhay natin. Maaaring kadugo natin sila, tulad ng lolo, tito, o kuya, at ginampanan nila ang role ng isang ama sa buhay natin, in our childhood o formative years. Meron din tayong mga stepfather, adoptive father, foster father, mentor, pastor, teacher, o iba pang father figure na nagbigay ng pagmamahal at guidance sa atin at different points in our lives.

This Father’s Day, let us remember not just our biological fathers but also our “found fathers” — ang ating spiritual fathers, fathers-in-law, at mga taong tumayo bilang ama sa buhay natin, especially when we needed the love and care of a father the most. Sila ang naging instrumento sa ating healing at restoration, reflecting our heavenly Father’s character and compassion.