via TJC
“Hear, O sons, (children) the instruction of a father, And give attention that you may gain understanding,” Proverbs 4:1 NASB
“Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6 NASB
For the past several months, I have been in a men’s group called Every Man A Warrior (EMAW). In one of the books there were 4 or 5 lessons focusing on the biblical role of fathers in training their children.
As I’ve pondered these lessons as well as my life lessons learned in raising my own children, the lesson I’ve learned is this: our children want us to receive what they have to share with us. As young children, it’s the pictures and crafts made in school or Sunday school, as they become involved in activities such as music or sports or the arts, they share their involvement and achievements with those activities, and the best (and more challenging as a parent) is when they move out and begin sharing their lives with us. Their decisions, their dreams. As a father, all of these shared things are a reflection of our involvement and training in their lives. As I learned from this EMAW group, our children get their self-image from what they believe Dad thinks about them.
As you’re reading this, I’m sure your children run the spectrum from babies to adults.
My children, as adults, have taught me many lessons, some of which have been hard for me to take and yet because I chose to listen and accept what they had to say, it’s brought us closer together than ever. When we choose to listen and receive instruction or correction from our children it affirms our love for them. As St. Paul tells us, “If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.” 1 Corinthians 13:1 NASB
There are times I often wonder what did my dad think of me? What would he think of me now? He’s long passed so this remains unanswered for me. Have you asked your own dad recently?
Just over 4 years ago my son passed away. It was unexpected and sudden. However, I knew what he thought of me and he knew what I thought of him as well.
My daughter and I have become closer and I so enjoy her sharing her dreams and visions for her life and her future and we have an open and honest relationship.
Daily Battle Order:
What I’ve had to wrestle with is this question, “What does my heavenly Dad think of me? How do I show my love for Him?” What have I shared with my Heavenly Father Abba? What remembrances have I brought to my Abba?
The answer to that question is going to determine my actions and what I pass on to my children. They want to be shown our love for them by our actions as well as our words.
The challenge for us Kingdom Man, is how do I show my love for my heavenly Dad?
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