It is a big deal to be a parent. To be a mom is often more obvious and more celebrated in our culture than to be a dad… and of course, the nine months of pregnancy and the child’s birth day have something to do with that! But for moms and dads alike, parenting is a big deal. It’s hard work, long hours, and inconsistent thanks. You are directly shaping the future of your children. It is important to be intentional about what kind of Dad you are.
“The job of a Dad”
One of our own iHope counselors (Reeves Cannon) has a blog for his church family. He points out that dads set the tone for their family life. As a dad, your energy, your compassion, your anger, your kindness, your patience set the tone for how everyone else will display these qualities. You are leading your home. Are you leading in the direction you really want it to go?
Like everything in life, as Christians we look into God’s Word to see a picture of how best to live life. How do we see God our Father describing the qualities of a dad?
- Dads pray for their children (Luke 8:40-56)
- Dads point their kids to Jesus – and let them follow Him where He leads (Mark 1:16-20)
- Dads are forgiving, generous, faithful, and truthful (Matthew 5-7)
- Dads live by the fruit of the Spirit and not the acts of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-26)
- Dads honor their own dads (and moms) and are happy with what they have (Exodus 20)
- Dads are strong and courageous, meditating on God’s Word, leading their families forward where God is leading (Joshua 1:7-9)
Does a child really need a dad?
Scripture is clear: YES we all need our dads. God sent an angel to tell Joseph that he should marry Jesus’s mother. Even Jesus, God born in the flesh, needed a dad. Yet today, more than 20 million children are growing up without their dad. Are you home with your children regularly? Are you emotionally present and encouraging to them when you’re there? Are you the kind of Dad your children need?
Do you need some help or encouragement in how to become the Dad you want to be? Many churches have a Men’s Ministry or Family Ministry that can help you. Here in Florence, there is a local branch of Man 2 Man with classes and support available to fathers. Here at iHope, we pray every Monday morning at 11am for our community and would be happy to pray with and for you. Or you can find a dad in your community who is a role model for you and ask for his ideas and accountability.