The Perfect King, the Perfect Father

 

The Thai King is loved and honored in Thailand.  And saying just that, is an understatement.   His birthday, also celebrated as Father's Day, is one of Thailand's biggest holidays. 

"Father" is a term that stirs mixed emotions in many Thais.  Many Thai children grow up with mom or extended family.  Stepbrothers, half-sisters, the mom of the older kids, the dad of the younger siblings, it's all family, and it's all the norm here.  One of the big consequences of sin is broken families. 

This fact has left a lot of people needing to hear that God is "Father to the fatherless" (Psalm 68:5), "compassionate and merciful" (James 5:11), and will never abandon for forsake us (Psalm 94:14).

A group of Buddhist Thais initiated a conversation at the park this Father's Day that led my friend to share how "God is the perfect King, and the perfect Father."  As good as any earthly, human father can be, God reaches infinitely beyond.  And he loves us as his children, wow!

 One of the beautiful things about this holiday is that it reminds families how life is "supposed to be."

The park was filled with the beautiful scene of fathers and children enjoying floating lanterns and watching fireworks light up the sky together.