Tough and Battle Tested

Father’s Day is approaching and many of us Dads can fondly remember the gifts we have been given on our special day. The ties that were neatly folded into a shoe box, wrapped with the Sunday paper comics that were either displaying our favorite sports team, fishing gear, or the ultimate “#1 Dad!” I still have a few hanging in my closet most notably of Bob and Larry (Veggie Tales). You may remember reading homemade cards from your giggling 6-year-old, or opening presents with the typical themes of fishing, golf, sports, or food. When our children, of all ages take time to appreciate us, those are moments to smile and reflect upon the joy of being a father.

But on the other 364 days of the year Fatherhood is a tough job and not for the feint of heart. You have to have nerves of steel to change those explosive diapers. I am not talking about a cute little baby doo-doo. No these are the ones that combine a jar of Skippy, Butterfingers, a stick of dynamite with the toxic smell of skunk, rotten eggs and nuclear radiation. You are battle tested when your toddler, third grader or 16-year-old says “NO!” defiantly. On numerous days you have thrown a ball, played board games, read Dr. Seuss stories (and got tongue-tied), sang with the Wiggles, inflated bicycle tires and balls, be the Jungle Jim, or wonder what happens next with I-Carly and numerous daily activities all after putting in a full day. Your workday may include a dangerous commute of live-action frogger, dealing with not-so-Disney customers and co-workers, a micro-wave lunch, and a survival trip back home. As you pull into your driveway, exhausted and drained, is when your Fatherhood role kicks-in and your children need your best. Fathers are tough, resilient, resourceful and giving.

Father’s have a vital, irreplaceable role in a child’s life. A loving Father provides emotional and physical security, a model of healthy and balanced masculinity, physical play, risk-taking, adventure, and fun. One primary role of a Christian father is to point their children to the Heavenly Father, to be a Godly example of grace, mercy, integrity and love in the likeness of Christ. No other can fulfill your God-given role as a father and the priceless gift you give each day of yourself to your children. To my father friends both novice and experienced – keep up the good fight, for you are fighting for your children.

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. – Galatians 6:9

Thanks Dad – you are one tough, battle-tested veteran who is a model of Fatherhood.