A Father's Example

My dad has always been one of my favorite people. If anyone reading this knows him, especially our relationship, you know that he has always been the biggest supporter of my sister and me. He pushes us to do our best in everything, even when we don't want to.

The Bible has a lot to say about fathers and husbands, guiding them on how they should lead and care for their families. When I think about those passages, I can't help but think of my dad. He has always done his best to lead our household in a way that honors God.

Every Sunday, for as long as I can remember, my dad got up and got us up. (Mom deserves credit too, she got us ready when we were younger!) Then Dad would take us to Sunday school, followed by the eleven o'clock service, and often back again for the evening service. If the church doors were open, we were there.

Looking back, I remember my sister and me trying to talk our way out of Sunday school every now and then. At the time, I was just a kid who wanted an extra hour of sleep on a Sunday morning. Now, I understand the importance of it. Dad never budged, and I'm thankful he stood his ground.

The other day, my boyfriend and I were talking about college and how many people we knew growing up, or even when we first got there, changed over those four years. Many drifted away from God. We talked about how easy it could have been for us to do the same thing.

That conversation reminded me of Proverbs 22:6:

"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it."

Now, I'm not saying that those we knew weren't raised the right way. I know many of their parents, and I'm sure they were. I'm also sure there are parents praying for them every day and trusting the Lord to draw them back to Him.

What I do know is that I'm incredibly thankful for a dad who took me to church, even on the days I didn't want to go. College was hard enough, and life is hard enough. Without that foundation, I'm honestly not sure where I would be today.

As I've gotten older, Dad doesn't have to take me to church anymore. I choose to go. I've even had the freedom to choose where I attend. But Dad has still sat down with me and talked about it. He wanted to make sure I was attending a church that preached God's Word faithfully and that I was being spiritually fed.

My dad has never been the loudest person in the room. He's always led by example. But I know he's prayed for lost loved ones. He's invited people to church. And whenever he's given the opportunity, he's willing to talk about the goodness of God with anyone who will listen.

A year or so ago, my dad had a heart attack, and that was a scary time for our family. Before that, he had also walked through the loss of his own father. Yet through both of those difficult seasons, I never saw his faith waver. If anything, he stood even firmer, continuing to tell others about the goodness of God.

I'm not home much anymore. I still live there, but I'm an adult now, and our schedules don't always line up. I've always known Dad gets up early because his job often requires him to beat the heat. But when I changed jobs and started getting up earlier myself, I noticed something.

Every morning before work, Dad is up reading his Bible.

Not scrolling through his phone. Not watching television. Reading God's Word.

I know my sister and I have both looked for men like our father, men who are strong and dependable, but who also love the Lord and will lead their families toward Him. Men who will do for their wives and children what our dad has done for us: faithfully point them toward Christ.

I'm thankful for my dad every day. He's still the person I can call at any hour if I need something. He's still the person who knows how to make me laugh when I'm upset. And no matter how old I get, he'll always be one of my greatest sources of comfort and encouragement.

I share all of these things because I want to brag on my dad for a minute. I want to thank the Lord for him because I know not everyone has been blessed with a father like mine.

But I also share them because none of these qualities came from my dad alone. Leading a family isn't easy. Leading people toward Christ isn't easy. The strength, wisdom, and faithfulness I've seen in my father all come from the Lord. God has guided him every step of the way.

So, if you're a father reading this, I encourage you to open your Bible and see what God says about leading your family. His instructions are good, and His guidance is faithful.

If you're not a father, I encourage you to become the man God is calling you to be today. It will prepare you for whatever He has planned for your future.

And to my girls out there: if you've been blessed with a good dad, thank him. Thank the Lord for him. If you haven't had that blessing, don't let that discourage you. Open your Bible and see the kind of godly man the Lord desires for His people to become. Let His Word be your guide.

Happy Father's Day to all the dads who faithfully point their families toward Jesus. Your impact reaches further than you know.