Today is Father’s Day. For many, it’s a day of gratitude and joy—a time to honor the presence of a loving father. But for others, it brings quiet reflection and reminders of what never was.
I no longer have a relationship with my parents or my siblings. That truth holds sorrow, but also peace. Through much prayer, discernment, and healing, I made the difficult decision to step away from unhealthy relationships that did not reflect the love, safety, or grace that God calls us to walk in.
My parents divorced many years ago. My father has lived in another state for years and now faces the reality of dementia. While I tried to rebuild a relationship with him over time, it was never fully restored. My mother lives nearby—just 30 minutes away—but our relationship has been strained for much of my life. The environment I grew up in was shaped by dysfunction and emotional harm—patterns that have passed through generations on her side of the family.
Over time, I came to understand that in order to walk in healing, I had to stop participating in cycles that were damaging. Breaking away wasn’t about bitterness—it was about obedience. It was about protecting what God is doing in my life and creating a different legacy for the children He’s entrusted to me.
Ezekiel 18:20 says,
“The child will not share the guilt of the parent, nor will the parent share the guilt of the child.”
That verse has become a reminder that I am not bound by what came before me. I am free in Christ to walk in truth, to live in peace, and to break every generational chain.
Since surrendering my life fully to Jesus, I’ve learned what it means to be fathered by God. His love has been my refuge. His Word, my anchor. While my earthly parents could not meet me in the places I needed most, God has never failed to show up. He has provided comfort, direction, and strength in every season.
Mother’s Day came and went—and I celebrated with the children God graciously gave to me. They are a constant reminder of His goodness. Today is Father’s Day. My children spend it with their dad, and I’m thankful they have that bond. As for me—I celebrate the One who has always been faithful. I celebrate my Heavenly Father.
Psalm 68:5 declares,
“A Father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in His holy dwelling.”
I have come to know this not just as Scripture—but as my reality. Where others turned away, He stayed. Where others were silent, He spoke truth. Where others failed, He remained faithful.
If this day is difficult for you too, know that God sees you. He is near to the brokenhearted. He heals, restores, and walks with those who feel alone.
You are not forgotten.
You are not without hope.
You are loved by a perfect Father.
So today, I give thanks—not for what I’ve lost, but for the One I’ve found. The One who rescued me, restored me, and calls me His.
In His Love,
Jennifer
Jennifer Kalina 