COMMITTED DADS

On the occasion of Father's Day I want to share this message of wise advice given to us by Josh McDowell, renowned speaker and author of many books, including Committed Fathers. He says:

“As a good dad I did what I could, but my children have already grown and are forming their own families. I cannot say that I did everything right without making mistakes, nobody can say it, but what I do say and you can also say is that we did our best with what we knew at that moment. Let me tell you, that when I spending time with my grandchildren I realize that I have more patience and wisdom than before.

What a pity! When I learned to be a good dad, my children had already grown, so I thought, to be a good dad, we need a good training program. I advise you to take advantage of all the resources you can have and do your best because God will reward you. Do not forget that nothing will be more valuable to your children than the time you spend with them. Dads need to give quality time to their children. Do not forget that the most important thing is not that they follow you everywhere, but that you can be in their world and show them that you are interested in who they are and what they do. Accepting children unconditionally is fundamental and this is the foundation to have a good relationship.

Do not forget that the more we praise children for what they do well, the less they have to be disciplined because praise becomes a motivating force that drives them to behave well. Accepting children without conditions is the foundation to having a good, safe relationship. Expressing recognition is also a good basis to give them courage and meaning to life, as this serves as a basis and impulse to move forward. The recognition tells them that we care a lot about what they do, thus making them feel valued. Unfortunately, many children grow up without receiving recognition or praise. We all want to see our children protected from harm; we all want them to become purpose-driven people. I believe that one of the ways to help them achieve this goal is to foster in them a grateful heart; this would bring huge benefits to your children in very specific areas of their lives.

Remember that when we are grateful, we develop better ways to cope with the difficulties and stresses of life. Dr. Molanie says that practicing gratitude opens the heart and activates centers of positive emotions in the brain. The Bible says that we should be grateful first to God because He always blesses us and then with our fellow human beings. Do not forget that this has to be passed on to our children by example, so the more you see yourself praising God for protection and provision, the more likely they are to become living models of gratitude. Do not forget that without love, without respect, without trust and without communication, no relationship works.”

The Bible says in Ephesians 6:4, “And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord." This advice is loaded with the wisdom of God because if we correct our children with anger, this provokes anger in them; anger generates anger. God does want us to admonish them with firmness and discipline, but we cannot forget to do it with love. I am an older adult now and I have wonderful children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, and I am also willing to admit, as Josh McDowell, that I made mistakes in the upbringing, but I did my best to bless them with what I knew in those years.

I encourage all the fathers of the world to receive JESUS ​​CHRIST in their hearts and they will see salvation and healing in their lives and in their homes.

Happy Father's Day!

With love,

María Fanny Agudelo

6/1/2018