The Habits Of A Loving Father

In the movie John Q, Denzel Washington plays a desperate father whose son needs a life-saving transplant his insurance will not cover. Pushed to the edge, he takes an entire emergency room hostage in a last-ditch effort to save his child. He was so devoted and determined that he became faithfully fixated on getting his son the help, hope, and healing he needed. That is what loving fathers do. They are willing to go the extra mile, make the extra sacrifice, and even go to extreme measures to help their children.

In a real sense, the father in Matthew 17 has the same heart. He approaches Jesus after coming down from the Mount of Transfiguration, kneels before him, and begs for mercy for his son who suffers from debilitating seizures. This father’s situation had likely triggered a cascade of fear, frustration, and helplessness. Yet, his handling of this crisis reveals powerful habits of love and faith. As we celebrate fathers, this story teaches us what it means to advocate for our loved ones and trust God when all other systems fail.