DADDY’S day is just around the corner and I don't want to miss my chance to pay tribute to the man of the family.
That includes myself, though I have a long way to go in proving my credentials. Like all new dads, I hope one day, my son will find me worthy and be proud of his lineage.
Only then will my mission be complete and I can truly rest.
Every man who enters into a lifetime partnership with a woman has accepted a godly role. He has to care of his family like how his Father in heaven cares of him. So, what are the characteristics of a godly father?
From what one old dad told this younger version — and probably this younger version to his new generation — the godly father is a leader, lover and teacher.
The leader in a godly father guides his family on a divine path. He raises his children to be God-fearing people, not by domineering them, but by cherishing each and every member of the household. He leads by example, setting the path for his wife and children to follow. In order to do this, he needs wisdom, acquired by opening his heart to God and picking up a lesson or two in life’s school of hard knocks.
The godly father is also a good lover. If you don't believe me, go ask your mother. No matter how tempting they are, husbands should never laugh at their wives’ choices because they, and all their quirks, are one of them. Husbands are supposed to love their wives unconditionally which is marked by a giving, not receiving, experience.
It is said that a man will leave his father and mother to be united with his wife, and the two will become one flesh. To remain in one flesh, the love has to be sacrificial. So, how much love is considered sacrificial? It’s about loving the wife as much as he loves himself. The world is a tempting place and we men are constantly offered with better options. Being single allows us to flirt with the options but after committing to a family, the love is devoted to a single unit — the woman and her children.
This leads to the final point, where the godly father teaches his children in the training and instruction of the Lord without exasperating them. Earthly daddies are the closest that kids will ever get in terms of a spiritual relationship with their heavenly father.
He plays the role of the family priest, ensuring that his children seek the kingdom of God above all else and live a righteous life.
Love requires discipline and a father sometimes has to be the “bad guy” in enforcing it. Sure, it’s easier to ask mummy to do it, but a father who disciplines his son will get to rest well in the future instead of worrying over a scoundrel.
Children who are well-disciplined will bring delight to the hearts of their mums and dads. But in the process of doing so, it is always easy to end up angering the children. This would be worse if daddies lose track of their responsibilities and abuse them.
The children will grow up to be resentful individuals and have difficulties in fostering relationships with other people, including those who really care for them.
I guess the main objective of teaching children is not only for the sake of imparting knowledge or maintaining discipline, but to make sure they understand the lessons and know that their lives will change for the better if they hold what they learned closely to their hearts.
In my case, besides dialling the direct line to heaven, there are other God-given options for me to include godliness in my fatherhood. They include seeking the counsel of my own dad, loved ones and those who care.
But making a choice and facing the consequences are something I have to bear on my own, requiring wisdom, courage and strength.
Just as I put my faith in God, I know my family also put theirs in me to ensure their wellbeing, and I intend to make good of it.
