Tightrope Parenting

Fathers, do not exasperate your children, so they won’t become discouraged.

Colossians 3:21, HCSB

BEING A FATHER MEANS walking a tightrope of responsibility. You have to work hard to provide for your family, but you can’t make your job your life and neglect spending time with your wife and children. You want to encourage your kids, but you need to have realistic expectations for them.

You need to get along with your children, but trying to be best buddies with them has its pitfalls as well. You have to discipline them, but you can’t be a cruel dictator. Being a father is an endless cycle of challenges, but how you handle things could have a long-lasting impact on your children’s lives. (No pressure!)

Have there been times when your kids had you so confused, angry, disappointed, or terrified that you could hardly see straight? Of course. Every father is going to make mistakes when it comes to handling such situations, but it’s how you bounce back that truly matters.

Nobody said fatherhood was a job for the faint of heart, but guess what? It’s worth it. It’s incredibly challenging and incredibly rewarding. Your kids are a gift from God. He’s given them to you as a sacred trust, and He will help you parent them. There’s nothing like seeing your kids build on the foundation you’ve given them in the Lord.

BOTTOM LINE

Being a father can be difficult, but it’s one of your greatest legacies. So, with much prayer and reliance on God’s grace, aim to be a great dad.

Moment of Strength: Psalm 127:3-5