Fathers Day
This last Father’s Day was surrounded by some tough days of parenting. Our son accidentally choked himself on the pull chord for the blinds in his bedroom. (He’s good now)
That was scary.
I’m also realizing that parenting a pre-teen girl is like trying to pilot a spaceship — I have no idea what I’m doing. This holiday and the day-in day-out grind of parenting has me thinking about the kind of daddy I desire to be.
My generation, as well as the one below me, has a highly skeptical view of all kinds of authority. People who are in charge are guilty until proven innocent. I sense the pendulum in the culture of the “self” swinging toward an anti-authoritarian mood with a new penchant for small, proximate, friendly leadership. At times this errs on the side of more love than truth. More tolerance than courageous conviction — a flimsy style of leadership.
And then I watched the presidential debate. Ugh.
For too long have we tolerated people in powerful positions who wield their influence with an iron fist. The “my-way-or-the-highway” style has led too many down the path of neglect at one extreme and abuse at the other. People today hate dictators.
Many find themselves thinking that the answer to bad authority is no authority. But is that the way to flourishing? Is everyone who exercises authority forced to choose between being a hard @#* and a push-over?
The legacy God’s given me to steward requires I aim high, and no matter how much I miss by, to flop into grace.
Here it goes. I aim to be a dad and leader who:
Listens - James 1:19
Confesses - 1 John 1:9 , James 5:16
Repents - Luke 18:13
Submits - 1 Peter 5:1-5
Reconciles - Matthew 5:23-24
Apologizes & Ask’s Forgiveness - Matthew 5:9
Has friends who speak into my life - 2 Samuel 12:7
Is approachable - Matthew 8:5-6
James 1:19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
James 5:16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.
Luke 18:13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’
1 Peter 5:1-5 So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: 2 shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; 3 not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. 5 Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
Matthew 5:23-24 So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift
Matthew 5:9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
2 Samuel 12:7 Nathan said to David, “You are the man!
Matthew 8:5-6 When he had entered Capernaum, a centurion came forward to him, appealing to him, “Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, suffering terribly.”