While taking a prayer walk recently, I was reflecting on the fact that my dad turned 72 this past year and was now fully in the “4th quarter” of his life.

3 thoughts quickly filled my mind.

30 years from now, my dad will be gone.

I will be at the same stage of life my dad is now.

And my oldest son will be my age — likely with a family of his own.

It begged several questions in my mind:

“What will it be like not having my dad around?”

“When I am his age looking back, will I be pleased with how my life turned out?”

“What am I doing to prepare my sons for their journey ahead as men, husbands, and fathers?”

Sure, they’re just kids now. And 30 years is a long time — or is it?

I believe it’s very healthy to contemplate the future. As leaders of our families, we dads must have vision. We must have plans to turn our vision into reality. And we must have perseverance and discipline to be consistent and proactive in leading our families.

Here’s an example to illustrate this.

One of my highest priorities for my children is that they have a strong knowledge and love of Scripture when they are adults. That’s part of my vision for them.

So we read Scripture together. As a family. Often. Each of our children (who are old enough to read) has their own copy of Scripture. We have “Scripture Reading Time” several times a week (my goal is daily.) We all sit together in our family room in a circle or around our dining room table. I start and we go around the room taking turns reading. I give commentary and we discuss what we read along the way. It’s a great way for them to build communication skills, but more importantly to discuss and absorb Scripture from their father. From their father – the one who was divinely given the greatest influence in their lives.

We’re also working on memorizing Scriptures together as a family, learning to hide it in our hearts (Psalm 119:11) and meditate upon it (Psalm 1:2).

This is just one example of how vision becomes reality, and I’d love to hear what visions you have for your family and what you are doing to see them come to pass. So please post your comments below, and let’s learn from one another.

And always remember…

“Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow let us go into this city and spend a year there, trade and make a profit.’ Whereas you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. For what is your life? You are like a thin mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.” -YA’acob 4:13-14 (called James in modern Bibles)

Blessings to you and your family,
Joey Watkins
A fellow Family Dad

Have you ever been at a place in your marriage where you and your wife were not lined up in your priorities? Maybe you wanted to focus on items 1, 3, and 5, but she thought items 2, 4, and 6 should be given higher priority.

This can quickly begin a cycle of strife and stress that will not be resolved until root issues causing the division are dealt with.

Much marriage division is the result of DI-vision. That is, two visions. My vision is different from my spouse’s vision. I see things from one perspective, and she sees them from another. I place greater importance on certain things, while she places higher importance on others.

I have found that talking things through, thinking aloud together, and trying not to be overly defensive with “my position” can help. I need to share *why* I feel a certain way about a matter, while my wife tries to see things from my perspective. And she needs to share while I listen and try to see things from her perspective.

Even doing this may not resolve differences in one conversation, but then again it might. And it’s worth doing.

We also need to pray and seek Divine guidance in the areas of our division.

There may be fears, insecurities, or other areas of sin that need to be confessed and corrected.

It may help to get together with another couple we both respect and share with them the challenges we are facing in our marriage.

Finally, we husbands are instructed to honor our wives:

“You husbands live with [your wives] according to knowledge, giving honor to the woman, as to the weaker vessel…” -I Peter 3:7

If your marriage is challenging right now, is there any way in which you are not honoring your wife? Are you giving her the value that is due her as a woman and as a more fragile vessel?

Blessings on your marriage,
Joey

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“Dad, I never really knew you.”

For too many dads, this is the legacy left behind to our children.

For a dad who was mostly absent during their childhood, their memories of him are few, consisting mainly of their dad consumed with his work, hobby, sports, ministry, or some other priority… but which communicated to his children… “you are less important.”

For other children, their dominant memories of dad include anger, violence, abuse, or addictions that kept him in bondage and feared by his children.

An absent dad or abusive dad does not have to be the legacy you leave your children. Instead, your legacy can be…

“Dad, Your impact on my life was outstanding… Thank You!”

Beginning this coming Father’s Day, only three weeks away, you have a unique opportunity to be encouraged, challenged, and equipped to become a better husband and father at the first ever 5-night online webinar event for dads…

The Dad Summit

Men will gather online in a webinar environment for five nights to hear from top national men’s ministry leaders who have a passion and a burden for helping men be better husbands and fathers.

Topics addressed will include how men gain identity, the impact of father power, practical “real-world” marriage tips for men, money issues in our current economy, discipling our children, victory over sexual temptation, and more. Each session will also include Q&A from participants, giving you a unique opportunity to dialogue with the speakers with your most urgent questions.

We want you to be with us at this first ever large-scale virtual event for dads. Because FamilyDads is hosting this event, you can register for the Dad Summit and receive a special $5 off registration during checkout by simply entering this coupon code: familydadsblog5

Each of our speakers has recording a special mp3 audio overview of their sessions which you can access at http://www.DadSummit.com

For Moms… 

Even though FamilyDads is geared just for us dads, we know that some moms also read these posts just to check it out or to get insights and ideas for encouraging their husbands. So as a mom, maybe one of your biggest questions is “How can I help my husband be more involved in our family?” or “How can my husband gain more vision to lead our family?”

If you’ve ever asked these questions, why not register your husband for the Dad Summit as a special Father’s Day gift?!

It could have eternal impact on your family for generations to come!

Moms can learn more at– http://www.DadSummit.com/moms

$5 Off Coupon

As a FamilyDads blog reader, you can register for the Dad Summit and receive a special $5 off registration during checkout by simply entering this coupon code: familydadsblog5

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

PS – We truly hope you can join us at the first-ever online Dad Summit just 3 weeks from now! But remember, even if your schedule is already booked that week, you can still register and access all the sessions later because we are recording them.