OK, I probably should have posted this on Sunday in honor of Father's Day but life is busy and here it is Tuesday. Today I want to talk about what being a father is about to me. I think that the whole concept of fatherhood has lost itself somewhere in our society. Realizing that the number of single parent moms is substantial, there are many kids who grow up without a strong father.
So what does a good father look like? Well to start with, he needs to take responsibility for his life and his actions. If you got her pregnant, it's your responsibility take care of the child. It's your responsibility to train that child in the way he should live so that he will grow up to be a strong citizen and a good person. Now most of you might think that my last couple of sentences are pointed at guys who get a girl pregnant and then don't marry her or provide for the child. They certainly apply to that group but I am also talking about married couples and divorced couples as well. It really doesn't make any difference how that precious child got her, just take responsibility for it and teach it.
Which leads me to my next point. What should I teach my children? In my life right now, I have three wonderful children plus two other children who I am around a lot. So what am I teaching them? Well yesterday my oldest son mowed the lawn and I paid him to do it. Then I taught him about tithing. Regularly we talk about God and how important he is to our life. Did you know that Abraham was the father of Israel plus many other countries in the middle east? Do you know why? Because God knew that Abraham would teach his children about Him. That's part of our job as dads. Also dads, we need to know this. Actions speak much louder than words. If we tell our children one thing and then act in a different way, they are going to know that we don't believe our own words and they probably wont believe them either.
So after I teach them, what are some other things I should do? I need to spend on them. Now most of you might jump to spend money and I certainly tried to lead you that way. Dad if you had that child, it is your responsibility to help provide for that baby. Don't tell me that you are a "man" because you are tough, or successful or good looking etc., and yet you don't provide for your own children. If you aren't trying to provide for them, I'm not sure you are a "man." But where I want you to really go with this to spend your time on them. That's normally the thing they want most. The woman I am dating recently told me she thought I was good with teenagers. I don't know if that's true or not but if it is true, its because I just talk to them like they are real people. I don't treat them any different than any other person I would talk to. I ask them questions about their lives or what's important and then I try really hard to listen to what they say. Pretty simple stuff huh.
I think one of the most important things you can do to be a good dad is be the spiritual leader of your house. Let your kids see you pray. Don't leave all the praying to their mom or to the ladies in your life. Real strength starts on your knees. I heard someone say, "Show me a bible that is worn out and I will show you a Christian that isn't." Let your kids see you spend time in the word of God. It will help them as they get older.
Let me end this by taking a little different spin. In many church's today, I hear all kinds of really nice comments about mothers on Mother's day and they are all true. I am thankful for strong moms. But then I hear remarks about who really wears the pants in the family or other somewhat derogatory remarks about the dads. Ladies if you are making those "jokes" regularly, don't be surprised if he lives down to your expectations. Encourage your man to be a real man and to be a real father. You will be glad you did.
That's Another Opinion of the Minion
So what does a good father look like? Well to start with, he needs to take responsibility for his life and his actions. If you got her pregnant, it's your responsibility take care of the child. It's your responsibility to train that child in the way he should live so that he will grow up to be a strong citizen and a good person. Now most of you might think that my last couple of sentences are pointed at guys who get a girl pregnant and then don't marry her or provide for the child. They certainly apply to that group but I am also talking about married couples and divorced couples as well. It really doesn't make any difference how that precious child got her, just take responsibility for it and teach it.
Which leads me to my next point. What should I teach my children? In my life right now, I have three wonderful children plus two other children who I am around a lot. So what am I teaching them? Well yesterday my oldest son mowed the lawn and I paid him to do it. Then I taught him about tithing. Regularly we talk about God and how important he is to our life. Did you know that Abraham was the father of Israel plus many other countries in the middle east? Do you know why? Because God knew that Abraham would teach his children about Him. That's part of our job as dads. Also dads, we need to know this. Actions speak much louder than words. If we tell our children one thing and then act in a different way, they are going to know that we don't believe our own words and they probably wont believe them either.
So after I teach them, what are some other things I should do? I need to spend on them. Now most of you might jump to spend money and I certainly tried to lead you that way. Dad if you had that child, it is your responsibility to help provide for that baby. Don't tell me that you are a "man" because you are tough, or successful or good looking etc., and yet you don't provide for your own children. If you aren't trying to provide for them, I'm not sure you are a "man." But where I want you to really go with this to spend your time on them. That's normally the thing they want most. The woman I am dating recently told me she thought I was good with teenagers. I don't know if that's true or not but if it is true, its because I just talk to them like they are real people. I don't treat them any different than any other person I would talk to. I ask them questions about their lives or what's important and then I try really hard to listen to what they say. Pretty simple stuff huh.
I think one of the most important things you can do to be a good dad is be the spiritual leader of your house. Let your kids see you pray. Don't leave all the praying to their mom or to the ladies in your life. Real strength starts on your knees. I heard someone say, "Show me a bible that is worn out and I will show you a Christian that isn't." Let your kids see you spend time in the word of God. It will help them as they get older.
Let me end this by taking a little different spin. In many church's today, I hear all kinds of really nice comments about mothers on Mother's day and they are all true. I am thankful for strong moms. But then I hear remarks about who really wears the pants in the family or other somewhat derogatory remarks about the dads. Ladies if you are making those "jokes" regularly, don't be surprised if he lives down to your expectations. Encourage your man to be a real man and to be a real father. You will be glad you did.
That's Another Opinion of the Minion
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