This semester, I am taking a class called Legal & Ethical Issues In Business. In this class we examine cases, determine whether something is ethically right for a company to do, and learn the vocabulary that is relevant to the business world. I went into this class thinking I was going to spend an hour and forty-five minutes bored out of my mind twice a week. To my surprise this has quickly become my favorite class, and it is because I have a professor that challenges me beyond the scope of school.

My professor used to be a lawyer and a pastor. Those are two professions that usually do not mix. However, he starts off every class with a prayer and some time to talk with us about God. Going to a Christian university, it is not uncommon to have a professor discuss God with their class. I really enjoy this time because it starts off each class with some moments of reflection, and this past Tuesday hit me too hard not to share.

While going around the class, he asked us to share a moment in our lives where someone made us feel special. It could be as small as a compliment about our clothing, or something more personal. Someone briefly mentioned that they felt good when their dad said that he was proud of them.

Usually, my professor comments on what we say as a way to connect with me and my peers better. This particular comment, though, made him say something that I have thought about every day since. He told us that this kind of approval and pride from a father is something that we all crave because it is mentioned in the Bible. While having our moms tell us that she is proud of us is great as well, it is different coming from a father.

I continued to ponder that thought in my head throughout my day. The more I thought, the clearer everything became. My professor was absolutely right. We do crave that kind of love and affection from a father, and it is terrible that some of us don't receive that in our lives.

We all have someone that we can consider a father figure. Whether is is your actual dad, a coach, a teacher, an uncle, an older brother, a pastor, a grandpa, a mentor, or a boss. There is someone in all of our lives that we seek approval from. There is something so gratifying about having someone who genuinely wants to see us succeed.

For me, all I have ever wanted to do in life was make my parents proud. More importantly, I want my Heavenly Father to be proud of the choices I make. I am forever grateful that I have two fathers to make proud; one up above, and one here on Earth.

So I will leave you with this,

Psalm 103:13 says, "As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him."