by Jeffrey Bush
“Children’s children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.” — Proverbs 17:6
There is no clearer verse on the encouraging news of how a dad is irreplaceable for a kid. God created the need and desire for their dad within a child. A kid needs, wants, and loves his dad. Kids want to be like their dads and look up to their dads. I’ve read many books and articles that state a child is more likely to stay away from drugs, crime, and sexual misconduct if a dad is present and active in their life. Dads are essential in the lives of their children! God has placed it within a kid to look up to, to love, and even to mimic their dads. Dads don’t have to work at being cool. God has already reserved a free slot in a child’s heart for that position. What a privilege! But with that privilege comes a great responsibility. This position requires that dads be the right example to their kids. The best a dad can do is to point their kids to the God who will always be with them, give them eternal life, and offer them earthly satisfaction. A wise dad will use the God-given influence to point his children to Christ, both for salvation and a life used for God.
Dads, we have some choices to make. Below are a few areas where we dads need to step up to our God-given influence:
- Choose to Encourage Instead of Provoke Them.
Ephesians 6:4 and Colossians 3:21 command us fathers not to provoke our children to anger. By commanding or demanding their good behavior while living in another light is one of the quickest ways we can provoke our children to anger. Live a life worth imitating. Live a life that encourages children to want to be like you instead of want to be the opposite of you. Live a life that encourages them to want to love Jesus, and love their future spouse.
- Choose to Invest Time Instead of Avoid Time with Them.
You are have a job, friends, goals, and things to get done. It may appear that your kid(s) stand in the way of what you need to accomplish, but don’t forget the One who gave you those kids. These small disciples are with you only for a few years before they fly away to live their own lives. Make good memories. Take time to drink fake tea out of plastic cups. Take time to swing those little ones or let them jump into your arms. Set the phone down, close the computer, look them in the eyes, and invest time… for those are the memories that matter in the very near future.
- Choose to Show Them Instead of Tell Them.
Lessons, commands, or words are not enough. Kids will mimc who you are, not what you tell them to do. Do you want them to know a good work ethic? Do you want them to not be rude to others? Do you want them to love God? Do you want them to make wise decisions, be responsible, and thoughtful? Show them. Kids, and adults, for that matter, learn more by seeing instead of hearing. Make sure your feet (actions) line up with your mouth (words). Your kids will mimic who you are, not who you want to be, so live a life of example to those observant imitators God has purposefully placed in your life.
