Let go and let God have his way

My Daddy was an amazing man.  Probably every little girl thinks of her father as bigger and better than any other man around.

When I think of my Dad, I think of his stories:  He repeated them over and over and over.  One of my favorites was a story he shared when he talked of faith in his sermons.  

In my baby book, there is a picture of me sitting on the apex of the roof of the house my Daddy and his dad, Granddaddy Childs, built in Nederland, Texas where we lived until I was about 5.  Daddy was also in the picture and I assume he was repairing shingles.

The story Daddy told was about a little girl on the roof of a house with her Daddy.  He probably told this three year old girl just sit there while I nail these shingles down.  But after a time she began to get antsy and stood up.  Almost immediately she began to slide down the roof while her Daddy looked on in horror of what might possibly happen to his daughter as she slid off the edge of the roof onto the ground below.  Remembering the picture, I would identify the little girl as myself.  I do not remember the story actually taking place except in my mind’s eye as he told and retold the story.

Daddy didn’t tarry but leaped into action as the girl slid from the eave of the roof but miraculously caught herself by her fingernails in the gutter on the edge of the roof.  Her dad had already descended from the roof, down the ladder and run to the place where he looked up only to see his little girl dangling from the roof’s edge and crying out for her Daddy.

From below, Daddy spoke calmly to the girl.  “Honey, just let go and I will catch you,” he said.  But the girl was afraid and clung to the edge although her grip was waning in the face of fear.  “Just let go, Honey, and I will catch you.  I am only a couple of feet from your legs.  Let go!”

Despite her fear and recognizing the weakening of her fingers’ grip, she let go and dropped into her father’s waiting arms and within only a couple of seconds was safe in his arms.  

Daddies try to prepare their children to face adversities in life using the Biblical principles of God.  Let go.  What I have to offer you is safety, you have simply to “let go and let God have His wonderful way.  Let go and let God have his way.  Your burdens will vanish, your night turn to day.  Let go and let God have his way.” (Hymn by Harry D. Clarke 

Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1)  When fear demands clinging to the results of disobedience, faith urges trust in our heavenly Father.  It may seem crazy to let go; do it anyway.  The results bring life (Acts 2:21)

Happy Fathers Day to those Daddys who follow after our heavenly Father training their children in obedience to God, “Abba” (Romans 8:14).

(Cathy Bayert is pastor of Greybull First Baptist Church.)