Becoming a Father for the First Time!

I’ll never forget the day I became a father for the first time. Having watched my wife Kim go through a long labor and then deliver our son, Jonathan, my love and respect for her skyrocketed. She had just gone through a physically and emotionally exhausting ordeal that had brought forth this incredible little baby boy. And what amazed me most about it all was that, upon having our son Jonathan placed on her chest and into her arms, Kim began to ooh and ahh over our new son, acting as if nothing had happened—as if the last 18 hours had been a walk in the park! For a moment, I didn’t know what to think. 

Then I got to hold him. And as the little guy (all 9 lbs. 12 oz. of baby!) was placed into my arms, a new found love began to fill my heart. At that moment I realized the incredible capacity to love that God has placed within our hearts. After all, I had wondered beforehand whether or not I could ever love another person as much as I loved Kim. Or would it just be a lesser kind of love? But that day I realized that my love for my son didn’t mean less love for my wife or a lesser kind of love. Instead, I found that additional love filled my heart—a love as intense as that which I had for my wife; a love that although a bit different, was no less intense. And the same would be true with the births of our other children, Nathaniel and Joanna. With each birth, my heart grew in such a way so as to be able to experience a larger capacity for love. 

It’s been nearly 34 years since I became a father. Now I am not only a husband and dad, but as well a grandfather of three boys (Jonathan’s sons). With each of their births, the same has happened—i.e., and increased capacity to love. And each time it happens, I’m once again amazed at how God has built into us this incredible capacity to love—our spouses, children, grandchildren, and many more. I’ve learned through the years that there is always room for us to love one more. After all, we’ve been made in the image of God, the One who is Love! 

The Apostle John wrote, “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1 – NIV) And, “And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.” (1 John 4:16)  Aren’t you thankful, God never runs out of love? 

On this Father’s Day weekend, I can’t help but reflect on the great love our heavenly Father has shown to us. And I pray that my love for my wife, children, grandchildren, and others would continue to increase, that my life might be a reflection of his love. 

Happy Father’s Day to all the dads!  

Have a great day! 

- Pastor Tim Harris