Becoming a Battle Ready FatherSample

Surrounded By Allies

Conceptually speaking, I think most fathers would agree that we want our children to find godly friends and mentors as they mature. They will need men and women who speak wisdom into their lives. However, when this occurs, it can catch us off guard. Here's my story.

My teenage son and I were enjoying rich conversation and some hot chocolate at a coffee shop. Everything was fine. A synapse fired for him and he said, "That reminds me of the best marriage advice I ever got…"

I paused, mid-slurp. I leaned in, ready to hear my words spoken back to me, proof he had been listening all those times. Then, the sucker punch, "…which was from Mr. Sundt. He once told me…"

I nearly choked on my hot chocolate. Mr. Sundt?! I know him. He’s one of my son’s school teachers. The young one. Does that guy shave yet? Aren’t he and his wife still sorting through wedding gifts? Marriage advice, seriously?!

He retold the advice - which was good. But, in my pride, it stung a bit. Here I was, a faithful husband and an engaged dad who even took his son to a coffee shop to have a conversation. I’d just bought him a hot chocolate! Where did this ingrate get off ranking Mr. Newlywed’s advice ahead of all the great stuff I had told him?

Then, it hit me. This is precisely what I had been hoping and praying for! This teenager was picking mentors who could give him godly counsel - men and women who could speak words of life to him.

Sure, I want to be a life-long mentor for my sons. Yet, I am a flawed and incomplete individual. I have limited skills and life experiences. As my boys grow into faithful men, they will need a gaggle of godly men and women pouring into them. People who know things I do not. I should not be the sole voice of earthly wisdom in their lives.

However, on a wintry night in a coffee shop, as this reality unfolded, I was caught flat-footed. Even so, my shock quickly turned to delight.

So, I put it to you. Are you hoping and praying for your children to find godly mentors and friends? Are you ready for it to happen?