Wise Dads

Fathers are one of the first attachments that young children make, says (Dr. Jessica Myszak), a
child psychologist and The Help and Healing Center director in Glenview, Illinois. “This
early attachment helps form the basis for future relationships in the child’s life. Through their
earliest relationships, children learn that they can trust and depend on others.” Children start to
look for stability and build trust with their parents at a very early age. By showing your child that
you are present and reliable, they can begin to form bonds with you that will last into their
adulthood. Building this trust early in their lives can also influence how they perceive the world
and how they approach relationships with other people.” Though, any Christian dad who has
attended church for longer than a few months has been told: “Take your children to church, pray
with them regularly, and have family devotions.” Start children off on the way they should go,
and even when they are old, they will not turn from it (Proverbs 22:6, NIV). But most fathers
accomplish only the “taking-them-to-church” goal on a regular basis. And when it comes to
family devotions, most dads fall down on this duty not because of the lack of desire but because
they simply don’t know what to do. Every dad will be glad to see their children are ready to face
the challenge of the world without hesitation. Though, when a child is well-trained your heart
will not be troubled for their future. As being said, “The father of a righteous child has great joy;
a man who fathers a wise son rejoices in him (Proverbs 23:24 NIV). So, “The righteous lead
blameless lives; blessed are their children after them (Proverbs 20:7 NIV).”

The book of Hebrews teaches and encourages us as a father to instruct our son in Godly fashion.
Therefore, “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he
rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts
as his son.” Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children
are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined–and everyone undergoes discipline-
-then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. Moreover, we have all had human
fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to
the Father of spirits and live! They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God
disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems
pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and
peace for those who have been trained by it. Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak
knees. “Make level paths for your feet,” so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.
Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see
the Lord. See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to
cause trouble and defile many (Hebrews 12:5-15 NIV).

“Many parents worry that they don’t spend enough time with their children, wondering if this
will lead to developmental delays. Some parents feel guilty about working full time, or
experience anxiety about choosing to work out at the gym or go to dinner with friends. Social
media posts from stay-at-home parents who are able to take their children to the local zoo or
work on colors and the alphabet with them only add to this anxiety. But have no despair! A
recent study in the Journal of Marriage and Family questions the impact the amount of time
mothers spend with their children has on the academic achievement, behavior, and emotional
well-being of their children. This is not to negate the importance of time spent with children, but
rather, to reinforce the point that quality of time is much more important than quantity of time.
Children need high-quality time with parents and caregivers—that is what is most beneficial to
children and what can have a positive effect on them as they grow. It isn’t about endless hours of
time—it’s about how you choose to spend that time that truly matters (Jessica Alvarado).”

Indeed, fathers, if what we have just talked about sounds like hard work. We get up in the
mornings, go to work during the day, come home to play with and spend time with our children,
and then get them in bed so we can spend time with our wives. Then we fall into bed ourselves
so we can get up and get back again tomorrow. It doesn’t make for an interesting reality show,
but this self-giving is central to what it means to be a father and a husband.