Sorrowful
While in our car today (Sunday) we witnessed a father rough up his son, who must have only been about 3. The son was crying and in a bid to stop this the man (undeserving of the title 'father') grabbed him by the throat and slapped him around the head. As they walked on the man was shouting and angrily pointing his finger at the boy, while an older brother (of about 5 or 6 years old) gently rubbed the boys back, showing more wisdom & tenderness than the grown-ups, and probably what he should have to at that age.
What To Do?
What are you supposed to do if/when you see things like this. The man was obviously into body building (& i'd bet steroids) so am i supposed to approach him and get a hiding? As i write this i could cry for the child, and wish i had approached them, just so he could see not all fathers are like his poor excuse of one.
I know kids can frustrate you but . . . common!
Then there's the kid i know who's mum ripped up his hand made fathers day card, & the toddlers that you see running the streets late at night with no supervision.
My Kids
At the moment i find no greater joy than spending time with my kids - sure there's times when i'd love to kick my feet up and have earplugs in. But playing castles, hide & seek, catch, taking them out on bikes, to the park, tickling them, reading to them and seeing them have fun with me is amazing.
Barbara reminded me yesterday (Saturday) that our kids will grow up, and probably while in their teenage years, won't want to spend much time with me compared to the time with their friends. This is the natural order of things, but i couldn't help being filled with dread over that future. How do i prepare them? How can i influence their future choices & behaviour?
Being A Father's Reflection
I read someone (i cant remember who) say 'pack in truth while they are young and hope the Spirit uses it like kindling to set them on fire for Christ. So i guess that's my main goal, along with continual prayer that Christ would set them ablaze, even now separate them for Himself and fill them with His Spirit. That they would respond to His call and that He would seal them with His Spirit. That nothing would hinder these little children from coming to Him and that they would be used for His glory and the furtherance of the Kingdom.
I'm also to be a reflection of the Heavenly Father. Admittedly i fall far short on this front, but my short-comings do not negate the calling for dads to be image bearers of the true and perfect Father.
[Picture: We shamefully told Jake to check that the hose wasn't blocked before we turned it on - he did tell me off for this but he also asked us to do it again so i guess it wasn't all that cruel.]
