Hugs and Wayuphigh
Theme of the week: How to Be a Caring Dad
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
 1 of 1
Key Bible Verse: "And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf is welcoming me." (Matthew 18:5) Dig Deeper: Matthew 19:13-14
All my friends make fun of me. They know I am not a touchy-feely person. I avoid hugs. In fact, I get uptight when my space is invaded.
But I have always hugged my boys. My wife, Nellie Jo, would hand me the boys continuously when they were babies. I once thought that she did so to take a break. But now I see that she had a greater purpose. She wanted me to bond physically with my sons at the earliest possible age.
I hugged those boys from birth to present. I kissed them on the cheeks when they were young boys. I would wrestle with them on the floor and tickle them crazy. And I would play wayuphigh with them.
Wayuphigh? Huh?
Wayuphigh became one of the favorite activities of my young sons. They would tell me, "Daddy, take me way up high!" I would then lie on my back, put a son on the top of my raised legs and feet, and lift him "way up high" in the air.
And you know, I don't think that they were particularly impressed with the modest heights my stocky legs lifted them. They just loved the attention and physical contact with their dad.
—Thom Rainer in Raising Dad
My Response: How good am I at showing my love to my children through physical contact?
Thought to Apply: A truly rich man is one whose children run into his arms when his hands are empty.—Unknown
Adapted from Raising Dad (B&H, 2007) by permission; All rights reserved by the copyright holder and/or the publisher. May not be reproduced.
Copyright © 2010 by the author or Christianity Today International/Men of Integrity magazine.
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Heavenly Father, show me how to truly care about the details of my children's lives; help me to be patient with their immaturity; guide me as I seek to discipline in God-honoring ways; help me to always love them unconditionally.
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