Create Traditions
Theme of the week: How to Be a Caring Dad
Thursday, July 8, 2010
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Key Bible Verses: And you know that we treated each of you as a father treats his own children. We pleaded with you, encouraged you, and urged you to live your lives in a way that God would consider worthy. (1 Thessalonians 2:11-12) Dig Deeper: Deuteronomy 11:18-21
It should be a no-brainer that we [dads] show up at parent/teacher meetings. If you have to, take a personal or vacation day to be there.
When my wife and I are at these meetings, I'll confess our goals are different. Cindy is a teacher, and she's taking copious notes and asking questions.
While I'm certainly interested in understanding what Kari or Laura will be learning, and how we can support that, I'm also there to put sticky notes in my daughter's desk. This tradition started when Kari was in third grade. I was sitting at her desk, reliving my childhood as I tried to fit in her desk chair. That's when I noticed a pad of sticky notes in her desk drawer.
As her teacher talked, I wrote a first note, "Kari, you're going to do great in math this year," and put it in her math book. As the teacher continued to talk, I wrote another note, and put this one inside her reading book. By the time her teacher had covered everything on her list, I had every subject in her desk covered over with Post-It notes. Each note carried a thought or prayer or wish for her.
The next morning, Kari found the notes. Thus a father/daughter tradition was born.
—John Trent in Dad's Everything Book for Daughters
My Response: What traditions could I start with my own kids?
Thought to Apply: Kids spell love t-i-m-e.—John Crudele (educator, writer)
Adapted from Dad's Everything Book for Daughters (Zondervan, 2002) 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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