The Theologian's Daughter

Have you heard of fathers who run? In Jesus’ parable of the prodigal son, the father runs to the son when he sees him walking from a distance. The Bible doesn’t say he stood. Or walked. But ran to the son as soon as he saw him. Why is this important?

In Jewish culture, it wasn’t very proper of the men of the households (the head of the families) to run. The parable states that the father pulled up his robes and ran the minute he saw his son at the edge of the village. The father willingly lost his social dignity while pursuing and welcoming his son back home. This was the father who ran.

My father was a father who ran too. Everyday, from the time I started school till I was in 12th grade, he had a principle of One, Two, Three. That his daughters have One glass of milk, Two Dates and Three Badams. And boy, was I a fussy eater. I would finish my breakfast with great difficulty and run out of the door in a hurry. Pappa would calmly walk down with me while I wait for my bus. In the middle of us talking he would stuff a deseeded date into my mouth. The shock on my face that he had this all along! That it was in his hand all along. That he also deseeded it so I could eat it comfortably.

I have memories of him creatively ensuring I eat well. Of him telling stories while feeding. Of him funnily counting to 10 while I drink milk. But mostly, of him taking the playful route instead of scaring me into eating.

By the time I was in 11th, I told him to stop accompanying me to wait for my bus, since I was a little ashamed of others watching me with a parent. In retrospect, I wonder if he felt ashamed at any point, for accompanying me, especially in a culture where fathers being publicly affectionate is not very common.

This always makes me wonder of the verse in Mathew 7:11, if our father on earth can do this much, how much more will our Heavenly Father?
How much more does our heavenly father also shamelessly lose His own dignity in pursuit of us returning home?

Oh to have a father who runs after you, not with a stick but with a deseeded date.

20/07/2024