How Important is a Father?

Children have never been very good at listening to their elders, but they never failed to imitate them. Since fathers play such a huge role in how children see themselves, it is even more important for fathers to be men of their word, in action and in deed.

Dads, when you speak into their hearts all the things you love about them, you fill their souls with nourishment they will live with for the rest of their lives.

Mark 10: 13-16 People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it. And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them. The Bible places the responsibility for leading the family on fathers. The buck really does stop with them. Being a good father is not so much about being a good parent. Being a good father is more about being a good man. The role of fathers in the family is discounted, down played, taken for granted and seen as optional in our society today. I believe fathers deserve to be respected and honored in their homes by their wives and children like never before. For fathers to succeed in their calling and responsibility as a DAD, they need the encouragement and support from their wives. There is a saying: "Behind every strong/great man, is a strong/great woman". It simply means he's a great man on his own, but even stronger with her." I love what the amplified version of the Bible says in 1 Peter 3:1 to us as women. It explains how we are to treat our husbands - words like submission, adapting ourselves to them, reverence, honor, esteem, appreciate, prize and adore them. When we get under their mission with support and encouragement, with God's help, they will end up being the best husband and father we could ever imagine. Men need honor. It is essential to their being. It is significant that God has described himself to us as our Heavenly Father and provided a model for us to aspire to. He is calling us to something greater than ourselves. He created the position of father as an essential part of the family unit. A father's greatness with his family is based on his care for them. His ability to lead is based on his willingness to serve them.