Dad and Daughter
Because I saw so much marital and familial carnage when I was growing up, I made a decision that I did not want to get married nor have children. Well, God had different plans. I did get married almost fifteen years ago and we have three beautiful children. Although I did not desire to be a father, the father I imagined myself being, is the one you see in the picture – one whose heart is fully captured by his children and one who is learning to be fully present with and for his children.
This evening my daughter, Mikayla (Sweetie), and I went to the Father and Daughter Banquet, hosted by a local radio station in Grand Rapids. We had a good time getting dressed up and spending quality time together. We talked about a number of subjects, laughed at one another's corny jokes, and enjoyed the singing of Jimmy Needham (dude can straight up sing). It was a great night.
As I write this post and look at these pictures, I am really emotional. The little girl you see in the picture is my little girl and God has given her to me to mold, shape, influence, and protect. It hit me hard tonight that I must be her first hero and I am the primary shaper of her thoughts and values about men and how they are supposed to treat her. I must not and I will not yield my privilege to schools, coaches or even the church. I will not abdicate my responsibility because of busyness and laziness. God has given her to me for a short time to empower her to be a strong woman of God, listening carefully to his promptings and having courage to influence and impact her culture.
What intentional moves are you making to ensure that you are your children's first hero?
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Tags: Parenting
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March 14th, 2009 at 12:28 pm
Amen Bro! Did the Daddy Daughter dance last year…I think the girls opted out this year because of the way dad cut a rug last year!