my church family

Today is fathers day. Today, I cant see my dad, he is in China. I was a little sad about that and I miss my family but I hadn’t really had the time to think about it. Today at church we had a beautiful segment dedicated to the dads where they all got given home made soaps from the kids and a wonderful video presentation was played for the dads. The video presentation was full of kids saying why they loved their dads. It was so sweet, not to mention funny. It bought tears to my eyes. The message, delivered by pastor Gerard was excellent. About the affect father have on their kids not just in the physical sense but also spiritually. And also how God can be our Father. It was really good.
I was ushering so I was there for both the first and second service. At the end of the second service I was feeling good cos id made it thru the whole morning without crying…haha. Well.. Along with the alter call, pastor Gerard called up some key male leaders in the church that are also fathers and said anyone that needed a godly, fatherly hug they were welcome to come up the front and get one! I tell you, I wanted to sprint up there! But I cudnt. I knew id just cry. Then I started crying anyway, so I ran to the toilets instead. (hmm wrong direction carrie!) as much as my dad knows how to drive me nuts I just really miss him today. And I felt so empty and sad. Then I came out and well, God is good. He knew I needed family around me and that’s what I had – my church family. It didn’t matter why I was crying, people were giving me the most thereputic hugs. I really do have wonderful friends. And then I started getting hugs from Dads. I was blown away by how much compassion I felt from them when I explained to them why I would not be able to see my dad today. Mr Buck even gave me his hanky! I approached Mr Pilton to tell him that he needed to drink his hot drink on the lino (only to discover his cup was actually empty! Lol) and when he saw that id been crying he just gave me the biggest hug. I couldn’t believe it. I hardly know him. Yet he stepped away from his conversation to comfort me and give me a cuddle.
Im so blown away by my church family. Um yeh, I don’t know what else to say. Im just blown away. People who I hardly know, show more love than some people that ive known for years! I guess that’s the love of God.