Over the ages there has been volumes written about fatherhood. I believe that is because it is among the most important responsibilities a man has. Along with being a good husband, being a good father ranks right up at the top.
I recently read an article on a website www.greatdads.org. It highlights six basics to being a great father. I won't go through all of them but the sixth is I believe a key one. It is to establish your fathering legacy. Much is spoken today about the legacy our president will leave, but what about the legacy you will leave in your children?
If you want to make a great impact on this world it starts with being a great husband and dad.
Let's reflect on these questions:
Do my kids see a consistent walk with Christ?
Am I the same person on Sunday I am the rest of the week? Or does the perfect Sunday dad appear and the everyday dad is someone completely different comes out? (There is a name for that, "hypocrisy")
Do my children know that I pray, read my Bible, and am anxious to serve God?
Do I talk about spiritual things with my kids?
Do I tell little "white lies" (i.e. calling into work sick and you're not really sick) that my children know about, but expect honesty from them?
What are my goals for my kids? How am I helping them achieve those goals?
I will stop there. Honestly answer these questions and then pray and ask God to help you live a consistent life in front of your children every day.
You get what you aim for in childrearing. I had a friend who was a deacon and father of a large family who said if nothing else his kids would know how to work hard. Guess what, his kids all grew up to work hard, but only a few are living for God. I later learned his spiritual life was inconsistent, he was a different person at church and home, but his kids work hard now, because he worked hard. Fathers we must allow our children to know us as spiritual men, and also set a goal to not only raise godly kids but that they will raise godly kids who will raise godly kids, and leave a spiritual legacy.
