The Power of Father LoveSample

The Power of Patience and Kindness

Johnny was a sad and angry child. His workaholic father was often not at home. When he was, he had little time and even less tolerance for his son. As Johnny grew older, he grew angrier. Eventually, Johnny released his wrath upon the world with an AK-style weapon.

Every day we read of some new tragedy stemming from children who either had no father or had bad fathering. Without present, engaged and skilled dads, kids are more likely to experience addictions, emotional and behavioral problems, academic struggles, and many other problems.

God’s plan for children is for them to experience and learn to model the love that He has for us through the fathering process… Agape. It is described in 1 Corinthians 13. The first two of the sixteen characteristics of love listed by Paul are patience and kindness. This is not just any kind of patience. It is supernatural patience from God. The New King James Version of the Bible uses the phrase “Love suffers long” instead of patience. The KJV word for it is “longsuffering”, which better describes the patience of agape.

Love is willing to suffer a long time under difficult circumstances without complaining. Think about that. Love is willing to suffer. A long time. Under difficult circumstances. Without complaining. Patience on steroids! The Holy Spirit in a man’s life empowers him to develop an extraordinary calm and unruffled temperament with those he loves – his children and their mother foremost.

God first loved each of us. Above all else, God is love and He demonstrated that in many ways. It all starts with patience and kindness. Kindness goes well with patience. God-enabled kindness moves one to act on behalf of a loved one. It is compassion shown toward another through doing something good on their behalf. Like spending lots of quality time with them. Children spell love “T-I-M-E”. Your time is one of the greatest gifts you can give your child.

When children consistently experience the loving patience and kindness of their dad toward themselves and others, they are likely to emulate that God-honoring behavior in their own lives. I will never forget my father’s kindness to me and others, including strangers, during his lifetime. Throughout my life, I have tried to be like him. That is the power of a father’s example of loving others with kindness and patience. In the coming days, we will take a brief look at the other characteristics of love as they apply to strong fathering.

What will you do today to demonstrate fatherly patience and kindness?