By Rabbi Dr. Esther Boucher
FATHER'S MAKE A DIFFERENCE
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A man was always losing things, but he was a good and decent man.
He lost his car keys about once a week. Losing things became his way
of life. He lost pocketknives and expensive pens. After a while he sort
of expected to lose things. So he didn't worry too much about what he
lost. Maybe, that was part of his problem. For it came to past last
week that he lost something very important. He knew where he lost it.
He lost it in the kitchen next to the pantry door. He knew when he had
lost it. It was Tuesday evening about 8:30. He knew what he was
doing when he lost it. He was reading a note he had written to his
teenage son early that morning, please feed the dog. Thanks, Dad.
Seeing the note he asked his son. Did you feed the dog? No, said
Mark, I didn't see the note. When the father heard his son's answer,
he lost something he hadn't lost in a long time, his temper. I know you
saw the note shouted the man in a loud, angry voice. You deliberately
ignored me and I don't appreciate being ignored! Mark looked
surprised, sorrowed and slumbered at the tongue lashing. He looked
down on the floor as his father continued his barrage of biting words
that broke his spirit. Quiet returned to the kitchen after several
moments. Sanity was restored. The father calmed down and chatted
with other family members about their day. We'll just pretend the last
several minutes didn't happen and enjoy a quiet evening at home
thought the man. The next morning as he came into the kitchen he
remembered where he lost his temper. He remembered his words
spoken in anger and rebuke. He remembered the change of his son's
face. As he remembered he felt ashamed. He drove to his son's high
school and scribbled appointment on the parental sign out sheet. He
stood and waited for his son. The son looked surprised to see his
father at school. How about lunch? Asked the father. Yeah, sure, dad.
They soon sat in a nearby restaurant and talked about the day's
events. Before many moments had passed the father spoke I...uh...I
was wrong in what I said last night. He stumbled over words until he
had delivered his apology. I'm ashamed that I lost my temper. I've
asked the Lord to forgive me, Mark. I need you to forgive me too. As
the two sat talking and listening, acceptance sat down between them.
Understanding pulled up a chair. Repentance brought reconciliation to
lunch, and the good and decent father found forgiveness in the eyes of
his son.
Ps 127:3-5 Fathers should be examples of Christian life and conduct,
caring more for their children's salvation then for their jobs,
professions, and ministry in the church or social standing.
Dad, if you want an opportunity to change your world, begin in your
home. No person has as great an opportunity to influence your child's
ideas about God as you do. A child's earliest impression of his father is
the bedrock of his life's foundation. From it will come his first mental
image of God. In a child's eyes father is the biggest and strongest
person in the world. A child's early vocabulary contains the world
da-da. Children like to snuggle up in their daddy's big, powerful, loving
arms and feel his strength.
Your child's intellectual ability, sex role identity, social adjustment, and
character development are affected by the father-child relationship.
The father is to provide care, counsel, instruction, prayer, discipline,
worship, and a Christ-like example. It is the responsibility of the father,
not the church or church school to provide spiritual training of the
children. Church and church school only assist. Luke 1:17 Tells us the
heart of the father must be turned to the heart of the child, in order to
bring the heart of the child to the heart of the Savior.
Dads be men of integrity, honesty and godly fear. Paul said in
Ephesians 6:4 Fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring
them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. The reward of
being a loving and God-fearing father are stated well in Malachi 1:6, A
son honoreth his father.
Fathers you really do and can make a difference. Dedicate your
children to God at the beginning of their lives. I Sam. 1:28, Luke 2:22.
Be involved with your children. Some feel it's not masculine to bathe
babies, change diapers, burp babies or play with them in a loving way.
This is a lie satin has programmed into our society. Instill confidence in
your children while they are young. Teenagers will resent your efforts
to influence them, especially if they have been ignored as infants and
children. Show enthusiasm in your affection and gentleness to your
children. Laugh with them, not at them, build them up, don't tear them
down; reinforce their successes, guide and encourage them when they
fail. Allow your child to observe your compassion and warmth to their
mother. Teach your child respect. Cultivate fair play at home, school
and church. Families with godly standards obey rules and laws of the
home and nation. Duet. 6:7 Instruct your children. Make time for
them. Involve your children in projects. Let them help you fix a chair,
stop a leak, and work in the yard. These can build relationships as well
as teach skills. Teach your children to pray. Read the Bible, sing
choruses and hymns and answer their questions. Attend church with
them rather then drop them off at the door. Inspire your children.
Children learn from example more than from words. They are natural
mimics. If you cheat the bill collector and lie to the government, why
should you be surprised when your child robs someone? If you use
profanity, why should you be shocked when you hear your child using
filthy language with the children in the neighborhood? If you are living
with someone outside the bonds of marriage, how can you say anything
when your daughter comes home pregnant, or your son has caused
someone else's daughter to become pregnant? You just can't talk the
talk to
your children you must walk the talk before them.
Col. 3:21 Says fathers do not embitter your children, or they will
become discouraged. Father's I challenge you today to make a total
commitment, to have a crusader's fervency to win your child's heart
and mind. Make a difference. You are in a battle with negative forces
all around for the control of your child's mind and victory's price is
unrelenting commitment. Perhaps you do not realize the awesome
importance God places on your rearing His children. That's
right, they are His! God has loaned them to you to develop for Him.
King David wrote in Psm 127:3 children are a heritage from the Lord,
the fruit of the womb is His reward. What will God's heritage be in
your children? Will it be a ruined life in prison, death at the end of a
needle, or a college and a productive life? Fathers, God holds you
accountable. You really make a difference. Make a commitment -
give your all to win the battle for your children's lives.
He lost his car keys about once a week. Losing things became his way
of life. He lost pocketknives and expensive pens. After a while he sort
of expected to lose things. So he didn't worry too much about what he
lost. Maybe, that was part of his problem. For it came to past last
week that he lost something very important. He knew where he lost it.
He lost it in the kitchen next to the pantry door. He knew when he had
lost it. It was Tuesday evening about 8:30. He knew what he was
doing when he lost it. He was reading a note he had written to his
teenage son early that morning, please feed the dog. Thanks, Dad.
Seeing the note he asked his son. Did you feed the dog? No, said
Mark, I didn't see the note. When the father heard his son's answer,
he lost something he hadn't lost in a long time, his temper. I know you
saw the note shouted the man in a loud, angry voice. You deliberately
ignored me and I don't appreciate being ignored! Mark looked
surprised, sorrowed and slumbered at the tongue lashing. He looked
down on the floor as his father continued his barrage of biting words
that broke his spirit. Quiet returned to the kitchen after several
moments. Sanity was restored. The father calmed down and chatted
with other family members about their day. We'll just pretend the last
several minutes didn't happen and enjoy a quiet evening at home
thought the man. The next morning as he came into the kitchen he
remembered where he lost his temper. He remembered his words
spoken in anger and rebuke. He remembered the change of his son's
face. As he remembered he felt ashamed. He drove to his son's high
school and scribbled appointment on the parental sign out sheet. He
stood and waited for his son. The son looked surprised to see his
father at school. How about lunch? Asked the father. Yeah, sure, dad.
They soon sat in a nearby restaurant and talked about the day's
events. Before many moments had passed the father spoke I...uh...I
was wrong in what I said last night. He stumbled over words until he
had delivered his apology. I'm ashamed that I lost my temper. I've
asked the Lord to forgive me, Mark. I need you to forgive me too. As
the two sat talking and listening, acceptance sat down between them.
Understanding pulled up a chair. Repentance brought reconciliation to
lunch, and the good and decent father found forgiveness in the eyes of
his son.
Ps 127:3-5 Fathers should be examples of Christian life and conduct,
caring more for their children's salvation then for their jobs,
professions, and ministry in the church or social standing.
Dad, if you want an opportunity to change your world, begin in your
home. No person has as great an opportunity to influence your child's
ideas about God as you do. A child's earliest impression of his father is
the bedrock of his life's foundation. From it will come his first mental
image of God. In a child's eyes father is the biggest and strongest
person in the world. A child's early vocabulary contains the world
da-da. Children like to snuggle up in their daddy's big, powerful, loving
arms and feel his strength.
Your child's intellectual ability, sex role identity, social adjustment, and
character development are affected by the father-child relationship.
The father is to provide care, counsel, instruction, prayer, discipline,
worship, and a Christ-like example. It is the responsibility of the father,
not the church or church school to provide spiritual training of the
children. Church and church school only assist. Luke 1:17 Tells us the
heart of the father must be turned to the heart of the child, in order to
bring the heart of the child to the heart of the Savior.
Dads be men of integrity, honesty and godly fear. Paul said in
Ephesians 6:4 Fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring
them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. The reward of
being a loving and God-fearing father are stated well in Malachi 1:6, A
son honoreth his father.
Fathers you really do and can make a difference. Dedicate your
children to God at the beginning of their lives. I Sam. 1:28, Luke 2:22.
Be involved with your children. Some feel it's not masculine to bathe
babies, change diapers, burp babies or play with them in a loving way.
This is a lie satin has programmed into our society. Instill confidence in
your children while they are young. Teenagers will resent your efforts
to influence them, especially if they have been ignored as infants and
children. Show enthusiasm in your affection and gentleness to your
children. Laugh with them, not at them, build them up, don't tear them
down; reinforce their successes, guide and encourage them when they
fail. Allow your child to observe your compassion and warmth to their
mother. Teach your child respect. Cultivate fair play at home, school
and church. Families with godly standards obey rules and laws of the
home and nation. Duet. 6:7 Instruct your children. Make time for
them. Involve your children in projects. Let them help you fix a chair,
stop a leak, and work in the yard. These can build relationships as well
as teach skills. Teach your children to pray. Read the Bible, sing
choruses and hymns and answer their questions. Attend church with
them rather then drop them off at the door. Inspire your children.
Children learn from example more than from words. They are natural
mimics. If you cheat the bill collector and lie to the government, why
should you be surprised when your child robs someone? If you use
profanity, why should you be shocked when you hear your child using
filthy language with the children in the neighborhood? If you are living
with someone outside the bonds of marriage, how can you say anything
when your daughter comes home pregnant, or your son has caused
someone else's daughter to become pregnant? You just can't talk the
talk to
your children you must walk the talk before them.
Col. 3:21 Says fathers do not embitter your children, or they will
become discouraged. Father's I challenge you today to make a total
commitment, to have a crusader's fervency to win your child's heart
and mind. Make a difference. You are in a battle with negative forces
all around for the control of your child's mind and victory's price is
unrelenting commitment. Perhaps you do not realize the awesome
importance God places on your rearing His children. That's
right, they are His! God has loaned them to you to develop for Him.
King David wrote in Psm 127:3 children are a heritage from the Lord,
the fruit of the womb is His reward. What will God's heritage be in
your children? Will it be a ruined life in prison, death at the end of a
needle, or a college and a productive life? Fathers, God holds you
accountable. You really make a difference. Make a commitment -
give your all to win the battle for your children's lives.
Copyright Gates of Praise Ministries 2006