Ryan Wilhite

“Father's Day”

Father’s Day may have been a tough day for some people, with their dads not here on earth anymore. 

Maybe he wasn’t present in your life, didn’t treat you good or have the best relationship with him. Even those fathers that sat in church every Sunday may have caused trauma.

Having a relationship with God and surrendering daily is the part most people don’t realize. 

The good news is no matter what, we have a Heavenly Father that will always be there for us. 

Even if you didn’t have a good childhood, that does not define you or your future. One changed life for Christ will impact generations to come.

Those experiences with bad earthly fathers are no reflection of Christ, so don’t let them change your view on how much God loves you. The devil uses that so often today. 

2 Corinthians 6:18 says “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” 

I was blessed with an amazing father. He was a great example growing up and was always there for me and still is to this day. I am extremely grateful for that.

When I went down a dark path in my late teens, I probably didn’t treat him the best, but he’s always shown love and forgiveness. God has since restored that relationship, even though I didn’t deserve it. 

He’s worked with me on the farm full time, since I started the operation and we are the best of friends. A majority of my phone calls are still made to him every day. 

My dad starts every morning and ends the day with a prayer out loud for us on the farm. This is my 10th season since I started farming 8 acres. We have never had a bad day on the farm.  

God has helped us keep an upbeat and positive environment. There is no other explanation for that other than God.

He makes everything go smoothly on the farm, running the combine during harvest, hauling seed and fuel around during planting, working on equipment, mowing and so many other things.

He’s one of the best Godly examples and fathers. I’m extremely thankful for everything he does and the most important thing is, his love for God and how God continues to grow our faith through life on the farm. 

I couldn’t ask for a better role model and wouldn’t be the man or father I am today without my dad. 

Now that I’m a father, I look back to how my dad was and it’s helped me so much on this new journey. 

If you’re a father and feel like you’re failing, remember the Holy Spirit is there to help us with every little detail of our life. 

God doesn’t want us to figure everything out on our own. We should always lead by example and show the fruits of the Spirit. 

They are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Even if you don’t have kids, the world needs more spiritual fathers’s.

God has revealed to me even more these past two years about how much He loves us, when I became a father. 

No matter what my kids do, I love them with all of my heart. I’m never disappointed in them and want the absolute best for their life. 

That’s exactly how God sees us and His love for us is far greater than we could ever imagine. 

Matthew 7:11 says “If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”

God is the ultimate example of how to be a Father. Always honor our dads and tell them how much we love and appreciate them, not just one day a year. And don’t ever forget that your Heavenly Father loves you unconditionally. 

I am so extremely grateful for the father that God has blessed me with. He’s inspired me my whole entire life and wouldn’t be who I am today without him!