Success – my husband would say, and I agree, that success is finding the will of God and doing it! So, to be a successful Dad would be to find God’s will for a father, and do it. That sounds like a very tall order, and it is!
The following poem has always been special to me. It shows the heart desire of a dedicated dad, and his yearning keep the task of fathering first in his life. I’m not a father, I’m not even a man, praise God :), but I had a father, I have a Heavenly Father, and I’m married to one of the best fathers that I’ve ever met. So, let me share what I see from the passenger’s seat:
It’s not money that kids want, it’s your approval, Dad.
It’s not a big home with all the latest do-dads, it’s your time, Dad.
Kids NEED to know, and see, and feel your love, Dad, and it doesn’t have to be with kisses, although they are nice. 🙂 If you love them, and hug them, and smile… they will know. (Words work too, although I know that it is sometimes hard – must be a man thing!)
They MUST have your strong hand of discipline, or there is no hope for them.
It’s okay to cry – tears water their hearts, and their love for you will grow better and faster and stronger than if your face stays dry.
Make them proud, Dad – it doesn’t take much, in fact, it doesn’t take any talent, just honesty.
Can you laugh at yourself, Dad? Laughing at yourself helps them to know that you are human, and there is hope for them!
And Dad, there is NOTHING that will assure your success and theirs more, than the Word of God. It’s an absolute must in your life. If you have a genuine love for God’s Word and you share that with your children, Satan and his minions will run! Read It to them; share your thoughts with them; pray with them; go to church with them; ask them questions about their Sunday school class. Be real, and if It’s not real to you, beg God that It would be so!
Mom’s may spend 90% of their time with the children while Dad is out there making a living, but that 10% of your time is more valuable than any of us can know…except one: our enemy! That’s why he makes fathering so hard! He knows if he can destroy the image of Dad in a child’s mind, the image of a heavenly Father is marred forever!
The Successful Dad
(Author Unknown)
I may never be as clever as my neighbor down the street,
I may never be as wealthy as some other men I meet.
I may never have the glory that some other men have had,
But I’ve just got to be successful as that little fellow’s dad.
There are certain dreams I cherish, that I’d like to see come true,
There are things I would like to do.
There are things I would like to accomplish before my earthly life is through.
But the task I’ve set my heart on is to guide a little lad,
To make myself successful as that little fellow’s dad.
Oh, I may never come to glory, I may never gather gold,
And when my business life is over, I may be considered a failure as told.
But the task I’ve set my heart on is to guide a little lad,
To make myself successful as that little fellow’s dad.
It’s the one job that I dream of, The task I think of most,
For if I fail that little fellow, I have nothing else to boast.
For the wealth and fame I’d gather, all my fortune would be sad,
If I fail to be successful as that little fellow’s dad.
And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
Galatians 4:6
Beyond Common Sense 