Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
Honor your father and mother
(which is the first commandment with a promise),
so that it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth.
Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger,
but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
Ephesians 6:1-4
I was studying in Ephesians again this morning with Kay Arthur and this mornings lesson began with Ephesians 6:1-4. She shared how through these verses and as we look at other verses throughout Scripture it is quite clear that God has placed the responsibility of rearing children on the father… the head of the household. The Scripture is clearly addressed to the Father.
I was blessed to be raised by a man who was and is a teaching father. He managed to work at least two jobs my whole childhood and still managed to coach me in softball and basketball. He never shirked his responsibilities as head of the household. We always knew he was boss. He backed up my mother and demanded that we respected and honored her at all times and she in turn always backed the decisions of my father. They were on the same team… even when we three girls backed them into a tough spot… if they disagreed they did it in private not in front of us. They would make changes in private and would reveal any changes to discipline as a united front. They were one and we girls knew it.
My girls are blessed to be raised by such a father as well… He is a teaching father too. He works twelve hour swing shifts but just like my father was, if he is not at work providing for his family he is with is family. He doesn’t miss the opportunities to teach his children and to be there as a pillar of support in there lives… I don’t know if they realize that now… but one day they will.
He has been there since their beginning…
He has worked off a twelve hour night shift and instead of heading home for bed he has stood outside in 100 degree southern heat to fix hair before he watches his middle daughter put on an archery show…
and to hold his youngest daughter up high so she can see over the crowd…
or to watch her twirl around in play while she is all dolled up in her ballerina outfit…
He’s been there to teach them how to shoot and how to hunt…
He’s there to celebrate with them in all there accomplishments.
Whether it be a softball tournament…
or to lead his daughter out, looking so very handsome, dressed in his first tux at her Senior Prom…
He is there to provide them instruction and is not afraid to get down on their level, eye to eye, heart to heart, in order to make sure they understand what he is trying to teach them…
and well he’s there to give that “daddy look” when they hit those years when they think know more and better than him…
and he is always a part of their life to offer solid practical advice…
He is there to help them conquer fears and reach new heights and push them and encourage them to accomplish their dreams…
He is a man that does not just provide his children with fish…
but he teaches them how to fish so that they might be able to teach others…
and he is even there to teach them how to cook the fish 🙂
He is a man that is not afraid to be silly with his kids…
and he is a man who takes the opportunity to take hold of their hands and kick off his shows and walk with them a while…
You can tell by the way his girls look at him that he is there hero…
Not only has he been there in these practical ways, but he has been there to take them to church, to encourage them to pray, to support them as they study the Word of God for themselves. He has been there to not just tell them to help others but he has shown them. He doesn’t sugar coat the truth and he doesn’t pretend something is right when he knows it is not. He keeps his word even when its hard and hurts.
So in a day, in a society, in a culture, where fathers are demoralized and made a joke in media, and where so many children live in fatherless homes… I hope and pray my girls always understand how very blessed they are to have this man in their life. I thank God for him.
If you are father and you are reading this… know that every effort matters.
I remember well the lessons I learned with my father. I remember well his words of encouragement. I remember well the things he has taught me. I remember well the things he showed me. He didn’t just tell me how to shoot a basketball, he showed me. He didn’t just tell me to mow the yard, he showed me. He didn’t just tell me how to keep a checkbook, he showed me.
My father didn’t just tell me that he loved me, he showed me.
So I am thankful for godly fathers. Fathers that love their children with a sacrificial love. Fathers that are willing to make a hands on investment in the lives of their children. Fathers that train their children up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord…