Family Man
My kids idea of a hard life is to live in a house with only one phone.
Our job as fathers is to plant good seeds and be an example. In God's own timing, our children will get thirsty, and, if we as good fathers have planted good seeds, then those seeds will soak in the water, take root, and bear spiritual fruit in our kids. The way we plant good seeds is twofold: by speaking truth and modeling truth, living an authentic faith before them. Kids have an innate sense of knowing when something or someone is fake, so authenticity is vital.
For example, fathers can show their children how men are supposed to treat women by the way they treat their wives. I've always heard the best thing a father can do for his children is love their mother. This speaks volumes to our kids. If we treat our wives with dignity and respect, then our daughters will come to expect that from the men who come into their lives. All men will be held up to their "Daddy" standard and that can be a good thing. On the down side, if we model critical and demeaning attitudes and emotional unavailability, our daughters will inevitably set low standards, but they will also crave male acceptance and validation which can set them up for unhealthy relationships.
Another thing for us to remember about modeling is that most children shape their images and attitudes about God based on their fathers. That's a pretty tall responsibility. If our personalities are callous, overly critical, unreasonable, or addictive, our children will grow up with a warped image of God. If we are secure, loving, patient, and compassionate, our children will have a healthier understanding of God's true nature.
Excerpt from "Fatherhood by George"
They said, "Aw, Dad. Why? It's just another day."One time I took my family to our house in the countryside. I woke my daughters up early and said, "It's time for us to watch the sunrise."
But I wouldn't take no for an answer. They stumbled out of bed, and we went outside to watch the sunrise. I wanted to teach them an important lesson about how to live, and I hoped they would remember it for the rest of their lives. As the sun peeked over the horizon, I told them, "This is a brand-new sunrise. You've never seen this before. I want you to understand that every day is fresh and new. It is filled with opportunities. You are not stuck in yesterday. Enjoy today and make the most of it."
Enjoying today has two benefits: It gives you happiness right now, and it becomes a good memory later.
Excerpt from "Fatherhood by George"