What a Difference a Daddy Makes : A Daddy who’s there
[An old photo I found! Taken in February 2008! Kids LOVE it when Daddy starts to doodle. Anya was close to 4yo, and Vai was just 1.5yo]
Last August, I was very ill for a few days. I was incapable of uttering audible words nor carrying out the usual things around the house. And, I still remember how Wilson was there a lot for us.
He helped out with some of the housework. He cooked and helped in taking care of the kids (bathing, getting them ready for bed, etc).
It all may sound really simple, but I really thank God for the things he did.
His support when I really needed it was really appreciated.
And I’m sure our kids noticed it all and learned from their Daddy too.
All this reminded me of a book by Dr. Kevin Leman called ‘What a Difference a Daddy Makes‘.
And I thought of sharing parts of his discussion on ‘A Father Who is There’ with you today.
(It’s an excellent book btw. If you know of any Daddies, especially if they have daughters, you may want to get them to read this book!)
Happy reading.
…
[Kids and Daddy sank their feet into the pond water and checked out this shaky ‘bamboo float’ during our stay at San Gria Resort and Spa in Bandung, Indonesia, earlier this month]
Ask our kids some 15 years down the road about what they remember the most about growing up in our home.
What do you think they’ll say?
Do they remember about the time spent with us?
Children treasure their moments spent with us, or in this case, with their Dads. And it’s not a surprise if what they remember the most about their childhood is simple things like, the times when they regularly play silly games with Dad before bedtime, or the time when their Dad took them to school on a rainy day.
Kids need to spend time with us (read: dads too).
Have dinner together. Make daddy-kids playtime a regular thing.
Only routine, quality and regularity can build a healthy sense of belonging.
The daddy who makes sacrifices in the name of relationship will be rewarded. The man who passes up the position that will bolster his income by twelve thousand dollars a year but send him out on the road for weeks at a time, the man who makes the choice to put relationship above everything else and who chooses to be present in the home, will make a profound difference in the lives of his children, especially his daughters.
A child will learn to see and treasure his/her father’s presence over time.
Father-affirmation isn’t accomplished in one big moment. Relationship isn’t a seamless concrete highway; it’s more like a gravel walkway, built by adding one tiny stone after another, one little deposit of time, one gesture of concern, one offering of sympathy.
Our children need daddies who is there for them.
