Dad Up
Sunday, November 1, 2009
 1 of 1
Hey Dad,
Things are going pretty good in our neck of the woods. The skies are clear, the temperature warm, God healed my RV brake lights, and I was reminded that being a good dad or husband is hard but not that hard.
It can be done. I can respond like I'm supposed to, I can be gentle when I don't feel like it, I can be involved when I'd rather not be, and I can do the right thing just because it is the right thing. I just have to DAD UP*.
I've been having a little issue with one of my female children. Every time I asked her to do anything it was like unleashing a dam of emotion and "Why do I have to always-ESE?" It was getting on my nerves, and I found myself being unkind and loud with my daughter.
It wasn't like I made some kind of covenant to be more fatherly from that moment on, I just DADDED UP and thought, my daughter needs me to love her … even if she isn't being very lovable. So I made a conscious effort to ask her about her things, brag on her about her things, tell her she looks pretty and that her hair looks nice, and stroke her back and give her lots of hugs and kisses.
And she responded with kindness and gentleness.
I was walking downstairs after a sweet encounter with her when the thought hit me, "That wasn't so hard." I didn't have to do anything difficult, cut off a limb, or donate an organ. I just had to DAD UP and do what dads are supposed to do. The thing is I don't usually do that. Even right now as I type this, I can think of a couple of my children whom I need to spend a little extra time with to let them know how much I love them … and then there's my wife who could use a little heart listening to. Man it sounds hard.
But that's the LIE. It may sound hard, but it's not that hard. I just need to DAD UP … and so do you.
So Dad, let me encourage you to ask your wife what she's feeling, sit on the edge of your son's bed and talk about, sports, iphones … or whatever, or look into you daughter's eyes and say, "You look beautiful today." It's not that hard. You just need to …
… DAD UP.
You 'da dad,
© 2009 Todd Wilson. Used by permission
* Similar to 'Cowboy Up' which means that when things are getting tough you have to get back up, dust yourself off, and keep trying.
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