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December is such a great time of year.

Where I live, we enjoy a lengthy holiday season, decorated houses and yards colorfully lit up at night, the sending and receiving of Christmas cards, fantastic Christ-focused music playing in the stores, delicious food with family and friends, and extended downtime from work to spend with our family.

Andy Williams’ song indeed says it best… “It’s the most wonderful time of the year.”

But there is something else I like that is unique to December…

It gives us an opportunity for two very important things:

1. Reflect on the year coming to an end
2. Consider and plan for the new year approaching

As dads, this involves significant action on our part!

So, how was your 2009?

Did you spend enough time — quality time as well as quantity — with each of your children this year?

How about time with your wife?

Did you teach and train your children in the things you wanted them to gain understanding in this year?

Would you say they are closer to reaching your goals for their lives than they were at the start of this year?

Is your marriage richer, closer, and more fulfilling for both of you than it was at the beginning of this year?

How will 2009 be remembered in your memories?

I encourage you to write down at least one top memory you have with each of your children and your wife from 2009.

In fact, why not gather the family together one evening after dinner and just sit around and share memories from the year? Reminisce about the fun times and signficant events and memories from 2009, and even write them down or have a recorder handy while everyone shares.

And then consider and discuss how you might make 2010 an even better year… for you personally, for your marriage, and for your family.

Have a planning time with just your wife too. It’s a great bonding experience.

Listen carefully and openly to her input.

Let me encourage you as we wrap up this year to also set aside some time alone to reflect on the year we are about to say goodbye to, and plan for the new year.

Spend time praying about this, too, discerning God’s direction for you and your family. Listen to Him most of all.

And commit to honor Him in the new year as the dad of your children, the husband of your wife, and the leader of your home.

Blessings to you and your family,
Joey Watkins
Founder, FamilyDads.com

P.S. – As you consider your year-end giving, if you can help FamilyDads with our ongoing financial needs, we could sure use it.  It will encourage me personally, but more importantly provide much needed funds to help more dads discover, embrace, and maximize their influence and leadership in their family in 2010.

P.P.S. – Thank you to everyone who has done some of their Christmas shopping at DadResources.com this month. You can still place orders using Priority Mail for delivery in time for Christmas. Shop here.

One night during the Thanksgiving holidays, my 6-year-old son was up late. His older brother and sister had already gone to bed and he was still wide awake, which is unusual for him because he’s usually the first one asleep.

Sensing an opportunity to spend some quality one-on-one time with him, I asked him if he wanted to go for a walk with me to see the moon and stars.

Bundling up in our coats and gloves, we ventured out into the cold, crisp night air with no agenda other than just to chat, walk, and take in the night sky together — which he loved.

As we walked, my son would talk about something and then ask “Right Dad?” to which I casually answered “uh-huh” not really considering his questions carefully. After this went on 3 or 4 times, it occurred to me that I might be saying “right” to something that may not have been right.

So I began listening to him more carefully.

The “Right Dad?” question must have come up at least ten more times during our walk. I wasn’t counting, but I began to notice that my son’s “Right Dad?” questions were really not so much about whether he was right or not about a certain thing, but more importantly…

He was wanting AFFIRMATION, VALIDATION, and ACCEPTANCE from the most powerful man in his life… his dad.

Basically, he was looking for my approval of him — that he was “valid” or “approved” or “accepted” by me.

In his booklet You Have What It Takes, best-selling author John Eldredge says every boy is asking the same basic question in his heart: Do I have what it takes? He wants to prove himself to his dad. He wants to impress him. He wants to be loved and accepted by his father. He is looking to his father for gender identity.

This is how God designed it. For us dads to bestow this upon our sons. No one on earth is more powerful in our sons lives than we are as their dads.

It’s something I need to be reminded of regularly. And maybe this little story will help remind you too… Right Dad?

Blessings to you and your family,

Joey Watkins

Founder, FamilyDads.com

P.S. – It’s almost too late to get a Christmas Cross Light for your front yard or a To Bethlehem board game for your family to have fun together during the holidays. Also, we’ve listed some of our best-selling Christmas gift items that are on sale right now at DadResources.com.