General Reflections

SaturdayReflection

17^th June 2023

J.John describes
group

the Anatomy of Fathering

In the Bible God is described as a Father, and human
fathers are to be imitators of God the Father.
Fathering requires many skills and one way to think of them
is in terms of parts of the body. Fathers need: a Heart

Children need to be loved, with a deep caring love
that is more than an emotion. Children also need to know
they are loved.
The Bible talks about God as a loving Father,
whose heart goes out to men and women.

In Jesus' Parable of the Prodigal Son, having let the rebellious son go,
the father anxiously waits for his return and then runs to greet him,
embracing him, restoring him back to sonship and ordering a celebration.

Fathering requires wisdom and common sense.
We need to think before: we make decisions. Careers, jobs,
voluntary commitments - all can have a positive or negative impact
on children.

With children it is all too easy to win the verbal battle but end with emotional
and relational scars which take time to heal.
Heart and head need to work together.

As fathers, we need to look ahead, to develop skills, disciplines and
positive attitudes in our children that will still be of value in the future.
We need vision to think through:
if the Christian faith is the most important thing, are we laying down
biblical foundations in our children's lives?

What are we doing together as a family?
Are we seeking to inspire our children and instil skills and values
that will endure?

We also need to look closely at our children, to see with compassionate
eyes their strengths and weaknesses.
Let's encourage them to develop the gifts God has given them.

Listening to our children is important:
it tells them that they are of value and it encourages them to communicate.
If we listen when they are saying little of importance, they are
more likely to communicate with us when they have something of
vital importance to say.

Listen to everything they say and pay attention to deeper meanings.
Sometimes, amid shouts for 'more pizza', there is a cry for understanding,
help or advice.
The discerning listener will hear something important in the noise.

Have 'a nose for trouble'.
Fathers need to discern unease even when nothing is said.
The discerning father knows his child and knows, however well hidden,
however deep down, whether there is peace or anxiety.

This skill of parental intuition will help you avoid either wading in
and intervening when there is nothing wrong, or not intervening when
there is something that needs attention.
Acquire that ability to sense the hidden alarm bell.

With our mouths, we both speak and kiss.
We need to use words wisely - they can be tools that bless or weapons
that wound. It is easy to fire off hurtful criticism;
it takes care to speak words that affirm a child's value as well as
helpfully adjust their attitudes and behaviour.

Hands are for holding on and letting go.
There are times to hold on to your child: when they are fearful,
want guidance or need support.

To fail to supply those hands, at this time, is to fail and disappoint.
Yet there are also times to let go.

Some parenting fails because children are let free of the parental grip
when they shouldn't be; some fail because they are never let free.

Parenting cannot be done from the end of a smartphone.
We must be with our children when they need us and we may need
to go the extra mile.

If you get a phone call from far away, the best response may be to get up,
go and be there with them. In a world increasingly dominated by
'virtual' presence, there is something tangible and effective about
having a physical presence.

It's a great thing for children to be able to say to their fathers,
'You were there when I needed you.'

Successful parenting is a no-nonsense, tough business.
Christian parenting makes special demands and at times fathers will
have to draw lines, stand up and be counted, or be unpopular and
frowned upon by friends.

Any man can father a child,
but it takes guts to truly be a father to a child.

Finally, parenting will drive you to prayer.
You will need to pray for protection for you and your children,
for wisdom, guidance, protection, for forgiveness and healing.

There are many things that men could boast of -
a sporting record, an outstanding career, a beautiful house and gardens.

Yet one of the greatest achievements is to raise children whom
we can honour and who can honour us.
That is a work of grace and we need to pray for that.