The influence of a father can have life-long and eternal ramifications upon their children. In Ephesians 6:4 after instructing children in the honor and respect for parents the Apostle instructs, “And you. Fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.” Instruct and correct them in gentleness (not punishment from a principle of revenge, but correction from a principle of affection), educating and training them as a tutor, in the calling and attention of the Lord, using mild rebuke and warnings, diligently teaching them the words of the Lord, Deuteronomy 6:6-7 and 11:18-19. Perhaps the greatest tool for instruction, and the greatest influence a father can have upon his children, in addition to his relationship with them, is his living example! Children tend to follow the example set by their parents, whether good or bad. As you read the Old Testament give special attention to how God seems to emphasize this by pointing out so many leaders that walked in the ways of their fathers. A real father not only begets a child, but he relates and bonds with that child with mild discipline, teaching, and example.
A Poem About My Dad
-By Rose Hill
I want to thank the Lord for my dad,
For working so hard to get the things we had.
Some lovely furniture he made for me,
It’s still in my house for all to see.
I’ll always remember how he loved a joke,
And the way he laughed telling it to other folk.
And those Peter Rabbit stories he told are hard to forget,
Did we want to hear more? I say you bet!
When I was upset with losing a job,
He encouraged me not to be sad or sob.
He said the Lord would give another that’s better,
And he was right, right down to the letter.
My Dad spent time in prayer for me,
For he wanted me the ways of the Lord to see.
And when I was only a child so free,
He prayed for the one who my husband would be.
Scripture quotations are from the New King James Version copyright by Thomas Nelson Co. and are used by permission.