Day 5
What better time than on Fathers Day to pay tribute to the father of my children – my husband, best friend, and soon to be caretaker. This is not the first time in our marriage that he’s been called upon to take care of me during an extended period of illness, yet his dedication to me and our family remains unwavering.
I am forever grateful for his love and devotion… for his willingness to disregard his wants and needs in order to be there for me. And to love me unconditionally, in sickness and in health.
Yes, he’s a great husband, but on Fathers Day I’d like to thank him for being a phenomenal father. Because of his leadership our boys have become kind, loving, respectable, and happy young believers.
Our church service this weekend focused on the 3 most important characteristics of a good father…. all characteristics that I’ve seen exemplified in my best friend. It touched my soul, because these are all traits that I’ve seen in my beloved husband. I believe there’s nothing more important in this crazy world than a strong family core, and want to share the info that was so eloquently shared with us.
The three characteristics of a wise father were described through the acronym DAD:
Discipline
The boundaries that we set up for our children will determine their future.
“Discipline your children while there is hope. Otherwise you will ruin their lives.”
Proverbs 19:18
Affirm
The words of a father shape the identity of a child. Every child needs to hear 3 things from their father:
I love you.
I’m proud of you.
I believe you can do anything
“The tongue can bring death or life”
Proverbs 18:21
Decide
Make a decision in regards to how much your integrity is worth. Your children are always watching you, and see much more than you could ever imagine. When you decide that there is no earthly thing more valuable than your integrity, and model that to your kids, you’ll shape their lives in countless ways.
“The godly walk with integrity; blessed are their children who follow them.”
Proverbs 20:7
Awesome message, and please remember that no matter how old your kids are – it’s never too late to be a wise father (or mother).
God Bless!
