My Abba Father

 My Abba Father.

It’s me, your dearest daughter, Joyce.

I am really grateful that you accepted me as your daughter.  

 

Abba Father, you are my fish tank with fresh and warm water.

I feel the warmth in your arms. I didn’t know the place I lived in was cold water.

You make my whole body get warm in your arms.

 

I feel free in your wide arms. I didn’t know the place I lived in was a small place.  

You make me jump and leap in your wide arms.

 

I feel fresh in your holy arms. I didn’t know the place where I lived in was muddy water.

You make me breathe clearly in your holy arms.

 

I feel comfortable in your peaceful arms. I didn’t know the place where I lived in was insecure.

You make me have serenity in your peaceful arms.   

 

I feel happy in your joyful arms. I didn’t know the place where I lived in was not the best place for me.

You make me have the true joy in your joyful arms.

 

 Abba Father, you are my redeemer.

I was Mack in the book “Shack” who was struggling with his earthly father,

who was in great sadness after his daughter was killed brutally,

and who questioned “Where is God in a world so filled with unspeakable pain?”

 

I was angry with my father, and cried and cried. 

You have been waiting for me so long, 

and you have been showing your love no matter what I react to my earthly father immaturely.

You embraced me and healed me in my Shack.

 

 Abba Father, you are my redeemer.

While I was watching the movie “redeeming love” base on Hosea.

I found that You are like my Hosea called to live in a covenant relationship.

I am your Gomer, married with Hosea.

I consistently rebelled against you,

and ran away from your arms into the arms of other lovers

to love others more than you, to try to live by myself without you.

You kept bring me back home again and again.

Finally I dwell in your amazing redeeming love.   

 

                                                    Photo: Hodgdon church quilt

Abba Father you are my quilter.

I am just a piece of fabric.

 I might be treated as trash to someone.

However, you treat me as a treasure.

 

I am reaped, and teared.

I might look poor in someone’s eyes.

However, you make me the part of your amazing work richly.

 

We are all broken pieces.

We might be called sinners.

However, you gather us and call us “church” in your magnificent quilt.

 

We are worn out.

We might be struggling with our own hurts.

However, you collect all our best parts,

saw with your justice and love like needle and thread.

You make us new creation with Jesus’ death and resurrection.

 

Abba Father, I love you so much.

Thank you for being

my fresh and warm fish tank,

my redeemer,

and my quilter.

 

Love,

Your dearest daughter Joyce.

9/18/22 

After reading Father's love letter(https://youtu.be/vCoDTUXHMeg),  

I dedicated my love letter to my Abba Father as my sermon in my first experience of leading whole service, without my husband, and with five children in Hodgdon and Houlton church. 

Service: https://youtu.be/p_tzjxM71MM