Here’s some guidance to deal with everything from spilled drinks to astronomical electrical bills.
We’re rolling up on Father’s Day pretty soon and off the top of my head I can’t think of a better playbook for dads than the 8th through 13th verses of the 103rd Psalm. The eighth verse talks about how the Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. I know personally the “slow to anger” part ran through my mind many times, often as I bridged up in the booth at the restaurant to let the soda pop flow toward the floor. I don’t suppose my love ever failed over spilt pop but my “like” took a bit of a beating a time or two. Besides that verse though, there are so many more us dads should heed.
The 9th verse is “He will not constantly accuse us, nor remain angry forever.” As the dad many times we’re the long arm of the law. However, to continue to accuse our kids of wrongdoing almost certainly ensures that whatever that wrong is will be committed. It’s a self-fulfilling prophecy. And although our kids foul up, as we all do, we have to let go of our anger and not constantly keep that in our minds as we interact with them. While I realize it’s the 278th time you’ve told them to shut off the lights when they leave the room, we need to keep in mind how we hope the Lord deals with our sins because that’s part of these verses too.
Verse 10 says, “He does not punish us for all our sins; he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve.” So, we’re given a pass on some of our sins and even if punished we’re given leniency. Remember, we’re promised and given this not as kids but as adults. Shouldn’t we extend that same grace to our young, learning, immature kids? It only seems fair. I know the old saying, “Spare the rod and spoil the child” but it doesn’t look like punishment should be avoided completely. It’s just that the love of our Father gives him the strength to resist giving us the full measure even when our eyes wander. Turns out He loves us quite a bit.
The eleventh verse says we’re loved beyond measure by our heavenly Father and I think we should show that same love to our own kids. If we model even a portion of the love we’re shown by the Lord, can you imagine the security, confidence and comfort our children will grow up with? Can you imagine the love they will reflect back to us and others? To give in this life is to receive in return and who can dispute the love of a child?
I hope you are filled with love for our Father and that the tenderness and compassion He shows us cascades down upon your kids. It is the greatest love of all.
We really do have a great fatherhood model outlined here and I hope that you’ll see at least some of yourself in it. I bet you will. If you would like to share this with other dads, please do so. The icons are below.
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