a real ambassador dad
A recent church youth survey exposed some interesting but distrubing results. Young people from 10-18 years old were asked to explain the single most confusing thing about their father.
Here is what some of them said:
“Dad takes me to church and I see him talk, act, and behave totally different than the way he is at home.”
“My Dad teaches and preaches Bible and Jesus stuff, but then cheats on the golf course and lies to our neighbor about his score.”
“Dad loves to pray when we have people over at our house … but never prays when it’s just us eating at the table.”
“Dad tells me to tell my friends about Jesus at school, but he won’t even speak to his own brother about Christ.”
“According to my Dad, it’s wrong to second guess my teacher, but he is openly critical of my basketball coach.”
“It is OK for Dad to swear, but not me.”
2 Corinthians 5:20 reminds all of us fathers that claim to know and trust Jesus to be His true ambassadors … and that must start at home.
“We are Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us …”
Wow, as a parent of a 20 month old, I am glad to have read this now. I know that Zach is very impressionable, even at his young age. Kids are really perceptive, and Mike, your post clearly shows this. Thanks for providing me another reason to keep my eyes open and to stay intent on good parenting.
Paul says, “Watch your life and doctrine closely.” Kids spot a fake a mile away.
Amen my brother. One thing I’d learned as a father is to be real with your kids. There WILL be times when I mess up as a father and its in those times I need to be real, confess and ask forgiveness from my kids. I have done that and my kids (especially my oldest son) respond to that very well. If we ever act like we got it together when we don’t, our kids will see through it and lose respect for us over time. I let my kids know that I struggle and I ask them to pray for me.
Its not about being perfect. Its about being in the Word daily, being rooted in Christ so that WHEN we do mess up, we are real enough (humble) to show our kids how a real man (a man after God’s heart) takes responsibility for our actions and then overcomes them in Christ who strengthens us.
I do strive to be consistent with what I teach my kids and how I live. This is what I am concious of daily. But I do try make EVERY moment (whether good AND bad) a teaching moment for my kids. This I believe will help my kids view me as real and not a fake!