And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord. (Ephesians 6:4)

The Leadership Of The Home Takes Time

Dr. Charlie Shedd held a contest called “One Neat Dad.” He asked contestants to send letters recommending their dad for this great honor. Here’s a list of the 10 most appreciated qualities of “One Neat Dad.” He takes time for me. He listens to me. He plays with me. He invites me to go places with him. He lets me help him. He treats my mother well. He lets me say what I think. He is nice to my friends. He only punishes me when I deserve it. He is not afraid to admit when he is wrong. Qualities one to five are versions of the single word TIME. It takes time to listen. Playing takes time with a child. Going to places requires time. Helping a child takes time. It all comes out of the same four letters: T-I-M-E. Time was the most appreciated trait of “One Neat Dad.”

Parenting is fraught with danger, and no one does it perfectly. God has given the Bible as the parent’s guide to being a good father. The first trait of being a good dad is showing the value of family in the marriage relationship. The most important thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother. Learning how to show love in marriage comes from God, who created the marriage bond. A good leader is always respectful of the ideas of others. As a father, a man must learn to cultivate in their children a mind that allows for discovery. Faith in God must be taught at the earliest age to establish trust in the child’s heart for the word of God. A father cannot teach what he does not know. Taking time to teach children demands a father to take time to prepare himself.

A good father involves others who will build upon the character of God in their children. Good company encourages good growth. Friends are important in the lives of children, and having associations that guide the heart of the child to be a spiritual person of integrity will serve them well in the challenges they face in life. A good father is not afraid of correcting their children’s behavior and, if necessary, punishing character that detracts from the will of God. Punitive discipline is taught by God as a means of molding good character. Leaving a child to himself will only show him how to destroy himself.

A successful dad’s most important trait is leading his family to eternal life. There will be time for work and recreation, but if a father is not leading his children to the throne of God, he has failed as a father. All earthly rewards will fade, but the eternal is everlasting. Parents only have one lifetime to guide their children to heaven. There is no greater reward than to know your children are going to heaven. The Bible is the father’s handbook. It requires the time and patience to instill in the heart of a child to love God. What a child knows about eternity will largely come from the experiences they receive at home. The world will not be as giving to teach the Biblical principles of truth and righteousness. Successful dads will learn the word of God for themselves and then share that teaching with their children. This requires time, and that time is precious. Training and admonition take time.