 |
This video is a great reminder to all of us dads about the influence we have EVERY DAY through the eyes of our children as they are growing up! Well done and impactful production. I know I need to be reminded of this every week. If you have a thought, comment, or story to share after watching this video, please leave it below for other dads to read and be encouraged by.
Today, for all Americans, is unique in our history. It is the inauguration of our 44th President.
The President of the United States is a position of immense power, unique prestige, instant fame, and world notoriety.
But you know what?
Our role as dads is more important.
It really is…Yes, it **REALLY** is.
Presidents come and go. Just think about all the presidents that have served so far in your lifetime. Sure, they make decisions that affect the direction of the country. And this next president will do likewise.
But as dads, we have something that no one…and I mean NO ONE… else has.
We have “father power.” It is the tremendous influence that we have in the lives of each of our children.
It is the power of our relationship with them, simply because we are their earthly father.
It is the ability and opportunity that we have as their dad to impact them, for all their lifetime, as well as their children and future generations of our family.
It is the privilege and responsibility we Dads have to instruct them, model to them, and disciple them in spiritual matters.
It is from us, Dad, whom our son will learn about masculinity, what it means to be a man, what it means to be a father, what it means to relate to a man, and if he has what it takes to be a man.
It is from us, Dad, whom our daughter can learn what it means to be truly cherished, how to relate to a man, what qualities to look for in her future husband, and if she is lovely as a woman.
With all due respect to Mr. Obama… even after today… his greatest importance and lasting influence will be in the lives of his two daughters.
He, like each of us dads, has a power even greater than the position of President of the United States:
“Father Power!”
Let us remember this amidst the media adulation and attention being given today and in the months ahead to the new US President.
Blessings to you and your family,
Joey Watkins
Founder, FamilyDads
PS – A great resource on “father power” is the book Father Power by Todd Wilson. This book has had a visibly profound impact on my life and it’s one I re-read regularly. It’s a quick, easy read which I highly recommend to ALL dads.
After serving as operations and marketing manager for a “workplace ministry” from 2004 to early 2008, I stepped down earlier this year so that I could give greater focus to prioritizing my family and discipling my children, as well as to launch a business/ministry to encourage other dads like you to prioritize your family and disciple your children. I believe this is one of the most important aspects of our lives as dads.
Every week, we men are tempted to consume ourselves with our work at the expense of our family — to make our work the highest focus of our lives. This is because of the amount of time we spend at work, the challenges we face at work, the level of responsibility we perceive in our work, and the money we receive in exchange for our time, our services, and our skills. And for many men, it is also because of the level of “calling” we believe we have in our work.
However, this focus on our work often results in neglecting the greatest influence we will ever have — in the lives of our children. Especially while they are young and still living in our homes.
This influence is our FATHER POWER. It is the level of influence we have in the lives of our children and their destinies simply because we are their fathers. It is the result of our relationship with them and our position of authority in their lives. Our relationship with each of our children will last for the remainder of our life, as well as impact them long after we are gone. And potentially for eternity.
Many of us dads miss this as we busy our lives with our work — week after week – month after month — while our children grow up receiving dominant influence from sources other than their dad.
If work is a higher priority in your life than your family, make a commitment to change that starting today. The FamilyDads emails are written to help you prioritize your family and disciple your children, to be encouraged as a dad, and to give you recommendations of helpful dad resources. Please forward these emails to other dads you know. And find one or two other dads to meet with regularly who share this desire to prioritize our families.
Two outstanding resources on today’s topic which I have personally read and give my highest endorsement are Father Power by Todd Wilson and Choosing to Cheat by Andy Stanley.
Your purchase of these books at www.DadResources.com
provides direct financial support to FamilyDads so we can reach more dads
with these critical messages of fatherhood.
by Joey Watkins, Thursday, September 4, 2008
In less than 60 days, many people across the United States will go to their local polling location and cast their vote for the next U.S. President. Predictably, the news media is fixated on John McCain and Barak Obama. Many, if not most, people look to the President as the individual who will solve the pressing problems facing the country.
However, there is a FAR more important and powerful leader than the winner of the upcoming presidential election.
That leader is YOU and me, Dad!
As dads, we are the most powerful person in our children’s lives. What do I mean by that? I’m talking about the level of INFLUENCE we have with them.
We influence them with our words, our actions, the time we spend with them, the time we don’t spend with them, what we teach them, what we model to them, how we relate to our children and our wife, our attitude toward our work, what we spend money on, what we do with our “free time,” and so on.
We have this unique influence JUST BECAUSE WE ARE THEIR DAD.
And it is FAR greater influence than the President has — both in this life and for eternity.
Dads who are committed to leading their families, demonstrating true loving fatherhood, praying for their spouse and children regularly, and instilling their values, faith, skills, and character into their children are the foundation for solving any country’s problems.
John McCain, Sarah Palin, Barak Obama, Joe Biden, or any other politician is NOT the answer… nor the problem.
Your thoughts? Encourage and challenge other dads with your comments below.
|
To encourage and guide you in raising your daughters, |
by Joey Watkins, Friday, August 29, 2008
I was walking across my bedroom toward the bathroom when a thought occurred to me…
“Am I just living WITH my family, or am I LEADING my family?”
There is a huge difference…
A dad who just lives WITH his family simply co-exists with them under the same roof. He may share meals with them, drive in the same vehicle, watch the same tv shows, and sleep in the same house at night.
But in reality, his focus, his time, his thoughts, and his attention are primarily given to matters unrelated to his family such as his work, sports, hobbies, and other interests.
A dad who LEADS his family is entirely different.
His thoughts are daily on his children and his wife. He prays for his wife and children.
His work does not dominate his life, even though he works with all his heart when he IS working.
He values and priortizes time with his family. He blesses them with his words. He serves them in love.
He is intentional about personally instructing his children in the ways of God: teaching them about love, faith, truth, forgiveness, evil, and more.
Dad, carefully examine your daily patterns. Determine if you are just living WITH your family or LEADING them.
Your children desperately need their dad to LEAD them. Your wife desperately needs her husband to lead the family.
Your feedback: Give your feedback or input below to encourage or challenge other dads on this topic.
R E S O U R C E for D A D S
Raising A Modern-Day Knight
A Father’s Role in Guiding His Son to Authentic Manhood
Looking for a tool to guide your son into transitioning from boyhood to manhood? This book by Robert Lewis is perhaps the most popular on the topic. Lewis looks at what it means to be a man and then gives ideas and practical ways you can guide your son with confidence to authentic, Biblical manhood. Learn More
Click Here to Order This Resource
