Dad’s don’t always get the credit they deserve.

Finding examples of good dads often requires digging deep in social media. Unearthing positive stories rather than succumbing to the negative ones.

Not saying perfect dads exist. 

Everyone’s broken. Especially dad. Especially when tasked with intertwining authority and discipline and love. 

Some of us live out our brokenness in more extreme ways than others. Not saying that’s acceptable or should be ignored.

Just that in this season of Jesus’ birth and Joseph’s step-dad role, I wonder how many people accused Joseph of getting Mary pregnant before he made her his wife? 

Was he kicked out of his own family over this “obvious” character failure? Did old friends discard him? Did his carpentry customers take their business elsewhere?

My father and step-father have both passed. I can’t undo my past false beliefs about their character. I can’t seek forgiveness from them for the myriad of times I accused them of doing something they hadn’t. Of spinning them negatively and piling on their failure without considering their souls.

Christmas is the birth of Grace in the Flesh. The Forgiveness of God sent to the world could now be held and touched and related to.

The dad entrusted with raising God’s Gift was no more perfect than the dad entrusted with raising you.

Perhaps your dad needs grace today. Joseph sure did.