The Joys of Fatherhood

Fatherhood is important.  Fathers are important.  

There's an epidemic of absent fathers in our nation.  There are fathers not present due to abandonment, incarceration, non-awareness of the existence of their children, premature death and a host of other factors.  Our children need fathers and there are stats upon stats from places like the CDC to the National Fatherhood Initiative to back that up. 

(National Center for Fathering)

I'm not sure why males need to be sold on fatherhood, but it seems we should be selling fatherhood to them.  So many times when fatherhood is pitched it is sold via the responsibility.  For instance, in our churches moms get flowers on Mothers' Day and dads get a lecture on Fathers' Day.  

An apple may keep the doctor away, but I'm more likely to bite it if you tell me it is crisp and sweet.

Fatherhood is sweet.

The joys of fatherhood are bountiful.  Yes, there is much responsibility, but there are more joys.  Being a father is one of the most rewarding endeavors of my life thus far.  I love being a dad.

I love hearing my kids say, "Daddy, I love you."  I love watching them grow and mature and seeing the fruit of my labor.  I love their cuddles.  I love that my young ones think I'm strong as Superman.  I love that my teen copies what I do even if he wouldn't ask for advice.  

Men, we need more present fathers.  But men, we also need more enthusiastic fathers.  We need the men who love being fathers to be vocal about the joys of fatherhood.  Yes, an apple can keep a doctor away but it's also great in a pie.  

This Sunday is Fathers' Day.  This Sunday let's remember how our Heavenly Father delights in His being our Father.  This Sunday let us celebrate the goodness of the men that wear the title of Dad well.  This Sunday share the joys of fatherhood.  In fact, tell me some of the joys of fatherhood you love most today.

The Screams of the Parents

 When I was in my college men's choir we sang "The Prayer of the Children".

Since the unthinkable tragedy, the massacre of children at Robb Elementary I have thought often of the screams of the parents.  Parents stood outside of the school hearing gun shots and seeing inaction.  I've been haunted by the thoughts of their screams, knowing they like me would rather have a body full of bullets than let their children be in that hellish building one more minute.

I can hardly imagine their blood curdling screams for help or the opportunity to help.  My blood runs cold and my heart aches when the thought of their predicament enters my mind.  I was especially struck by this pointless massacre because my little boy just graduated from preschool and is thrilled to be going to elementary in the Fall.  I, without trying, begin to wonder what I might do and what I might say and what I might pray and what I might feel.

At the risk of making their pain into my story, let me tell you what I thought about and have continued to think about since last Sunday.

How would my prayer life change if I prayed for my children's souls the way those parents pleaded for their children on that horrific day?

Without the salvation of Jesus my children are doomed.  No, my May 24, 2022 looked nothing like the parents in Ulvade's and I hope I never have a day like theirs (and I pray something is done to prevent another day like that).  My days in May were normal.  My children's days seemed normal.  Yet, I know they aren't.

Every day the Enemy prowls like a lion seeking someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8).  Satan wants my children.  My children need Jesus and my children's unbridled self wants nothing to do with Him.  If they are not specifically called they will not come and the devil will dine.

One of the most terrifying thoughts as a parent is that I could do everything right and still not have my deepest desire met.  I think of men like Pastor John Piper who have a radically unbelieving son and I imagine poor Christian education in the home wasn't the primary reason for that.  I think of how the thing I want most for my kids is the very thing I can't guarantee they get.  I can bring these horses to water but I can't make them drink.

Long story short, the screams of the parents in Uvalde reminded me that I need to pray for my children with far more tenacity and urgency than I do most days.  How would I pray if my eyes could see the spiritual battle raging around my kids' minds and hearts?  Would I not scream for their Helper?  Would I not appeal to their Defender?

What I most want for my kids is that they come to a persisting, saving faith early in life and that I would see with my own two eyes their baptism.  And my most greedy prayer is that I would baptize them all myself.  God, help me pray for that with fervor and urgency.  You reading, would you pray for me to have endurance in this most important request and would you pray right now my prayer for my children.  Would you remember to pray for unsaved souls with urgency? And finally, would you prayer for these devastated parents today?