Dads, I have a huge question for you. Who are you following? Are you worth following? This past weekend I was able to be in a class that was being lead by Tom Blackaby at the Teach Them Diligently Conference in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Mr. Blackaby was speaking on Leadership in the Home. One of the things that he mentioned was this verse :
1 Corinthians 11:1
Imitate me, as I also imitate Christ.
This simple short verse got me to thinking about me and what kind of dad I am. Kids will imitate those things that they love and treasure. I am sure that if you have ever walked in the snow, sand, mud or something that left a footprint, your child has attempted to step only where daddy stepped and followed in your footsteps. I ask if our kids imitate us and follow us, are we imitating and following Christ?
As the dad we carry a huge responsibility! We are the spiritual and moral leader of our homes. Our kids are watching our steps, actions, listening to our words and watching reactions to events around you. From what you watch to what you read to the jokes you tell around the guys, your kids are soaking it all up and are storing it for use later.
Do your kids live like pack rats and never clean up after themselves? Creating and preserving strange alien lifeforms in their bedrooms or bathroom? Or is making their bed as foreign as processing goat cheese? Then guess where they got it from dad. No, you can’t blame it on the mom! The buck completely stops with you, the husband of a homeschooling mom! Or do your kids back talk, yell or throw things? What have they seen from you or in your house?
I never said that this post would be easy, and it is not. Even for me. You see, I am a husband of a homeschooling mom, dad of 3, Awana T&T Director / Teacher, Children’s Church Director, Deacon and lastly the guy who plays the part of Jesus in our Easter play. I spend a lot of time with kids and parents watching me. There have been times that I have failed in my walk of imitating Christ. We all have. But the great thing is even when you fail, talk to your kids about your failure. Teach them from what you did wrong. Show them the right way the situation should have been handled. Then you will be imitating Christ just as Paul said.
Lastly, I have found this to be a big life changer for me and my family in this topic. Husbands, are you doing a family devotion? Not a quiet time by yourself, but a family time together. This is an outstanding example of following Christ for our kids and wives. Stand up and be proud to lead them in scripture and let them know that this husband of a homeschooling mom is following Christ!
So tell me, what are you doing to show that you are worth following. Leave a comment below and share with other husbands how you made it through.
Grace & Peace,
Steve
Photo Copyright of The Joyful Noiseletter