A Father’s Prayer

 

 

The Apostle Paul prayed for the Ephesians that God would give them strength (Eph 3:14-19). This is a fitting prayer for fathers to pray because we need strength. We need God’s help to teach our children the right way to live! I have listed some of the most important lessons.

 

·         Create an atmosphere of respect, and don’t tolerate disrespect.

 

·         Never make fun of your child, and always preserve their dignity.

 

·         Praise your children often—they will remember it.

 

·         Don’t tolerate temper tantrums--not as toddlers or teenagers.

 

·         Spend time with your family around the table and make it fun.

 

·         Arguing with their mom in front of the kids confuses the children.

 

·         Teach your kids patience, kindness, gentleness, generosity, and self-control.

 

·         Give them explanations when they are angry or confused.

 

·         Teach biblical morality daily of what is right and what is wrong.

 

·         Make forgiveness obvious—you forgive, and they learn to forgive.

 

·         Teach them how to work and why we work.

 

·         Teach them to always do their best and never quit.

 

·         Teach them to stand up for their convictions---even alone.

 

·         Teach them to never look down on another person for any reason.

 

A Compelling Life

 

In my years of working with families, it’s not hard to detect the influence of a father, good or bad, in people’s lives. The presence of a loving father shapes a child’s life in constructive ways that are incredible. A father’s absence leaves a hole that is difficult to fill. I have noticed fear, abandonment, and anger, for example, and have asked about their relationship with their father only to find out there wasn’t any relationship.

My dad made a deep impression on my early life. He taught us to work and the discipline to make our bodies do what they did not want to do. I can remember my father’s voice waking my brother and me up while it was still dark to go to work. It would be a blessing all through life.

My dad included us in his work and life. I remember going in the truck with my dad from the age of two or three. He made long trips hauling gravel to the drilling crews for deep water wells for irrigation. That was before car seats. I used to stand beside my dad in the truck, and when I wanted to sit, he let me sit on a wooden box so I could see. I can remember the smells of the truck, grease, dirt, and smells from the engine. And if I got too tired, I had everything I needed to sack out on the seat with my head near my dad.

I grew up feeling very secure and valued by my mother and father. I certainly felt very safe in my father’s presence. My dad was fun to be with, even if we were working. He was very affirming and encouraging. When we were small, my dad clarified the boundaries, and we knew the consequences of violating them. Most of all, my dad passed on to me his faith: his actions, as much as his words, were most influential.

The Apostle Peter later in his life gave fathers some excellent advice (1 Pet 5:2-7). He tells us to be servants, not lording it over our families, not greedy, but eager to serve in humility—this is a description of a father who will impact those little lives in incredible ways.

What matters as a father is that we stay clear of sin and overcome any bad habits. If we don't, we will mess up our lives and the entire family. Peter describes a man willing to own his mistakes and show grace to his family. I had that kind of father, and his influence still lives in my life today even though he is gone.

The Joy of a Father

 

Being a father brings some of life’s greatest joys. I was privileged to have had a father who enjoyed his children. He wanted you to be around, found something useful for you to do, and taught you skills that made you feel valuable. My dad taught me to drive a tractor, weld, work with cattle, and scores of things that have been with me all my life. Most of all, he enjoyed being with me. I picked up that desire to be with my kids from him because they have been one of my fondest enjoyments in life.

Fatherhood was meant to be enjoyed. The little ones change so much in the first year, and it’s so much fun to watch them explore their world. Then the toddler years come where they are so funny. They say things so spontaneously that they take us by surprise. Like the time our son Eric said, “Look, the rain is licking up our hop-scotch from the sidewalk.” Or what our little daughter said in response to a car commercial with the car flying through the air, “Oh, what a strong car.” During a conversation with our little son Ryan, we told him that Daddy had Indian blood, which meant that he and his brother and sister also had some Indian blood. He was very puzzled and asked about his mother; we replied that she did not. To which he asked, “So what are you, mother, a cowboy?”

God was so good to me because I had a job where I could often take my kids with me for a few hours on almost any day. Honestly, I loved taking them with me and never felt more proud than when they were in my company.

Fathers, God gives us these unique years to love, teach and inspire our children, and because we do that, we get their admiration and respect for life. That is worth more than all the bonuses and financial incentives in the world.

One of my all-time favorite scenes in the Bible is when the prodigal son comes home to his father after his wayward journey that has ended in abject failure.  He finally comes to

his senses and realizes that everything he searched for was back home with his father.  “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him” (Luke 15:20). That day the son experienced his father’s forgiveness. The father’s acts of love are so profound, as he calls for the best robe to be put on him and to prepare the fattened calf for the celebration.

When a child grows up in a home with acceptance, forgiveness, and love, their self-esteem will be much higher. Fathers, our acceptance of our children will impact how they live the rest of their lives.

 

(Parenting with a Long View) https://bovdbrooks.com/