One may not be able to fulfill a fatherly role with one's own child, but on the other hand, and this goes for me as well, one might still be a "father of choice" to someone else out there in the world. Fatherhood is something that can be shared worldwide. Meaning that in terms of the substance of a father's role, perhaps we are all pseudo-fathers.
But a faithful believer will in all circumstances mediate on the mercy and fatherly goodness of God.
There is nothing fatherly about time and what it does to us, either.
Nothing can burst your fatherly bubble faster than hearing your daughter come home from a date and saying: 'Some nights I don't know why I even bother to wear panties'.
I admit, I was fascinated by Adolf Hitler. He was a pleasant boss and a fatherly friend.
Holiness is a disposition of the heart that makes us humble and little in the arms of God, aware of our weakness, and confident - in the most audacious way - in His Fatherly goodness.
It matters in a fatherly way.
