The Present Of Being Dad

Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens.

James 1:17

A FEW YEARS AGO, children in Great Britain were asked what they wanted for Christmas. A new baby brother or sister topped the list. Close behind came a real-life reindeer. But the tenth-most-requested gift was a shocker: a dad. (A mum placed twenty-third.)

Your kids might not always say it, and as they enter their teen years they might not act like it, but they appreciate your role in their lives. This survey proves that children desire a father figure. They need a provider and mentor. They long for somebody to play with, learn from, and act like. You can be their hero as you seek to show them that Jesus is the true hero that you’re following.

Being a dad is a gift. It’s a gift we can give to our children for both the present and the future. But at its deepest level, fatherhood is a gift that God gives us. We’re reminded in the Bible that children are a “reward from him” (Psalm 127:3). James 1:17 tells us, “Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens.” To get the most out of a gift, we have to use it. So open and enjoy the gift of being dad.

Spend time with your children. Be present. Don’t take for granted the years you have together. They need you far more than a pet horse or a car (which finished third and fourth on the list), so strive by God’s grace to be a gift to them.

BOTTOM LINE

Being a father is a gift from God. Treat it that way, and you’ll be the best present your children ever receive.

Moment of Strength: 1 Thessalonians 2:11-12