One of the most significant responsibilities of a man is to be a father. Fatherhood in and of itself is nothing more than the ensuring of your bloodline. God gave you as a means of carrying on your legacy.

It is such a simple definition, but it enshrines the necessity of a man’s work, strength, courage, and ability to lead. Fatherhood Is the ultimate test and a man’s ability to be the person that society needs him to be.

Sacrifice

With fatherhood comes the absolute requirement of sacrifice. A father has no greater responsibility than the proper raising of his sons and daughters as fathers sacrifice our time, our desires, and often our dreams for the greatest responsibility in life. 

A father should be willing and able to give himself for all that his children need. God came to earth in the flesh as Jesus Christ. He sacrificed being in his heavenly realm to take on the flesh’s sufferings and ultimately die in one of the worst ways possible for his children.

Many men I know, would gladly give their lives for the protection of their children. Many men I know would gladly give their lives for the protection of their wives. The Bible tells us that men should love their wives and offer themselves for their wives as Christ gave himself for the church. In case you are not familiar, Christ died for his church.

Compassion

There is not often, not thought about, the requirement for such sacrifice and such leadership. That requirement is compassion.

A compassionate man is an understanding man just as God gave himself for us. For the remission of our sins and the Salvation of our souls. We are to have compassion for our children and give ourselves, in sacrifice, for the betterment of our children.

Our children mess up, just as we messed up when we were children, and while often punishment is required, just as our penalty for sin is death from our father, just as often, compassion is required and punishment.

God’s compassion for us is eternal life after death. We received the punishment, and then we receive compassion. For myself, my child has never been punished that did not follow up with a conversation. 

Lessons

This conversation involves why the child has been punished, why I felt the need for the punishment that was given, along with a hug and the reminder of my love for them. If you asked my children why dad punishes them, I am confident in the answer you will receive because he loves us.

Because he loves us is a reminder of why God, our father, punishes us. As I have stated many times, you do not have to be a Christian to understand the value and the guidance that the Bible gives us. Most of what we consider traditional comes from biblical teaching.

And while these traditions existed before Christianity, there is no doubt that in today’s world Christianity and the Bible itself are one of the best available resources and understanding what is required of a father and the husband.

Playbook

Christians believe, but the Bible sets an example that we are to follow. I have convinced many non-Christians to read the Bible as a source of the tradition they are looking for; I have not yet had one person tell me they regret it.

In such instances, my goal is not the conversion of a person, but merely providing a guidebook in which they should live. The fantastic thing about my religion is that it applies to everyone, even the non-religious.

There are many how-to guides on being a father and how to be a husband, but there is one ultimate authority in both subjects. Regardless of what path you take on your journey into fatherhood and masculinity, it is essential to note that one of the best things you can do is follow your intuition. 

I can sit here and tell you that you need to this, and you need to do that, but ultimately, and this is my theory only. We are indwelt with a primal instinct as to what is required of us. In a time of video games, Netflix, and all other distractions, we may have numbed that instinct, but it is there. If you are struggling with fatherhood, it’s probably about time to remove some of the noise from your life.

Psalms 103:13 “The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him.”

Proverbs 3:11-12 “My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in,” 

Padre

Twitter @HmestedPadre
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