Encouragement for Imperfect FathersSample

Don't Stop Being Present With Your Children

My daughter has this way about her that our relationship must be on her terms. She does not necessarily respond when I give her affection or attention, but when she wants to bond, she expects my full attention no matter what.

At first, I thought she was just too bossy, but I soon realized that if I did not capitalize on those times when she wanted to bond, I would not have a meaningful relationship with my daughter at all. So I started accommodating her preferences. Our relationship deepened, and soon we had our little relational routines. If we go to the mall, she will hold my hand in the truck and link arms as we window shop. (I think this is huge for a teenage daughter - it always makes my heart swell that she still wants to hold daddy's hand in public.) In the evenings, she will sit on my lap and regale me with the day's tales of how she crushed her peers with her mental prowess. (She's extremely intelligent and equally competitive. I feel sorry for her classmates.)

Especially as men, we can get caught up in work and tasks, but work can wait, and building relationships with our children can't. Prioritizing that face-to-face undivided attention with our family is an investment that always pays mega dividends!

Pray:

Holy Spirit, teach me to be present with my family. Help me to give them my full attention and to hear what their hearts are saying. Help me to love them well.