I was just thinking the other day about parenting. When I think of Parents, I think of Father and Mother. In my head, Fathers, Mothers and Parents are interchangeable titles — or at least, ought to be.
The newspaper had a story about a 16 year old girl who gave birth to a baby girl. When children have children, that's tragedy. It's multiplied when it's out of wedlock. — Anyway the article referred to the girl as "mother". But wait a minute! Just because a person is able to sire or give birth doesn't make them a Father or Mother or Parent.
Parenting is what goes on afterward. The title "Father" or "Mother" is Earned by what is Done with, for and to children, day in and day out, for, at least, the next 18 years or so.
It's a title earned by countless hours of nurturing, washing, toilet training, story reading, bed-time prayers, homework encouraging, teacher conferences, church going, disciplining, listening to problems, game playing, loving and caring. This is what makes Mothers, Fathers, Parents.
God is Our Father, not simply because He created us, but especially because He loved us, suffered for us, been patient with us, gave us the Best in His Son, defends us, protects us, provides for us. The list goes on.
That's why Jesus teaches that God is Our Father.