Focus on the Family: Fathers Matter

 

Fathers Matter: The Importance of a Father

Girl and her father

A father’s gifts of quality time, life-giving words, and positive actions have a long-lasting impact on his children.

What’s inside this article

Have you ever wondered, “Do fathers matter? What differences do I make in my home as a dad?” Let’s begin with the simple answer — the importance of a father is tremendous! You make countless differences in your home and family. However, how much impact you decide to make as a dad is entirely up to you!  

When was the last time you genuinely or playfully smiled at your children? When was the last time you gave your kids affirmation, correction, and reassurance? If you haven’t recently, do it now and see what happens. What did you notice? Did your child light up or smile back? Did your child respond and shift behaviors?


I vividly remember one day when my seven-year-old son and I were driving in the car together. He told me he no longer wanted to become like Michael Jordan — instead, my son said he wanted to become like me! What an honor and a helpful reminder that he is watching and learning from me along the way. 

As a father, how I live my life has a long-lasting impact on my children’s lives. A father has a significant influence within a family’s interactions and experiences. 


The 7 Traits of Effective Parenting

The seven traits of effective parenting are a thoroughly researched and practical template to structure the application of an authoritative parenting style in your day-to-day parenting as a dad. Below are a few examples of how the 7 Traits display opportunities for effective parenting as a father. 

  • Adaptability means you handle stress and what is coming at you as a dad in healthy and effective ways. It also means you have the mental flexibility to help your child feel understood and noticed by you.
  • Respect brings you fully present to your family. Through respect, you model looking inward and managing yourself well so you can listen, see, effectively respond to, and love all image bearers of Christ that surround you each day.  
  • Intentionality helps you create goals and focus on what you’re building in your children’s lives. Intentional affection, instruction, conversations, mealtimes, playtimes, and encouraging words can all have life-giving impacts on your family.
  • Steadfast love allows you to love deeply and give your family the strength that stems from a father’s unconditional love.  
  • Boundaries allow you to model and teach healthy ways to engage with opportunities, relationships, and interests.
  • Grace and forgiveness present the ministry of reconciliation that Jesus began through his death and resurrection. A dad can truly make his home debt-free and spiritually strengthened by modeling grace and forgiveness.
  • Gratitude provides a father with a loving and humble perspective that helps him lead his family well. 

Small Momentums Lead to Larger Momentums

Your habits, shared experiences, and little things you do provide the larger momentums within you, your child, and your family.  

Imagine if you could pull back the curtain and peer into your life’s momentum. You might find yourself asking questions such as: 

  • Which triggers do I have? 
  • What would my family say I love? 
  • What emotions do I bring to my relationships with my wife and kids?  

Let’s explore a few of the ways that momentum can positively affect your role as a father. 

Note:  The above comes directly from their website.  Click here to read more.

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