What are you thankful for? Money is tight. Health insurance has become a variable in your budget. Family gatherings are planned with folks you’re not sure really are family. And over the Thanksgiving weekend, Christmas shopping and the craziness of the season begins – you spend money you don’t have to impress people you don’t like with stuff they don’t want. I think that’s a Dave Ramsey session.

The Word on Thanksgiving – “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God and the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:6-7. Paul admonishes men to live with a thanksgiving state of mind. With thanksgiving, the peace of God will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. That means the noise and distractions of the world that seem ever more prevalent during this season will be taken captive and made obedient to Christ.

Live with a Thanksgiving state of mind:

1. Thank the Father daily for the blessings you enjoy, maybe even take for granted, and the grace that is Jesus the Christ in your life.
2. Thank the Lord for the valleys, past and present in your life where He teaches trust.
3. Thank others the Lord has put into your life to encourage and equip you on the journey.

As you tune into a Thanksgiving state of mind, the daily pressures will be kept in check and you will be a blessing to the family around you. The kids will catch what you’ve got and you will be a hero in their eyes.

Prayer guide: Lord, I do thank You for the many gifts and blessings in my life, may I never take them for granted. Strengthen me to live with a Thanksgiving state of mind and embrace the peace of You. Guard my heart and mind in Christ Jesus that I may guide my family well through this time to offset the noise and distractions of the world with the peace and joy that is the age-old story - You coming into the world as a babe. Amen.

Click on comment to share what you are thankful for.

Cat's in the Cradle was a popular song in the ‘70’s written by Harry Chapin. The lyrics resonate with men busy in the world.

“A child arrived just the other day. He came to the world in the usual way but there were planes to catch and bills to pay. He learned to walk while I was away. He was talkin’ ‘fore I knew it and as he grew, he’d say, ‘I’m gonna be like you, Dad, you know I’m gonna be like you.” The verses progress to: “My son turned 10 just the other day …” and then, “He came from college just the other day ...”

The chorus flips from, “When you comin’ home Dad?” to, “When you comin’ home son?” This is the HEADS-UP to dads – the years get by. There is a relatively short window of opportunity to invest in your children. Invest that time wisely to be engaged in raising a godly generation.

Investment tips:

1. Draft a plan with Mom to stay engaged through the school years and beyond - review it often.
2. Be intentional, strategic, in having age-appropriate discussions with your son around Biblical manhood. Incorporate “manhood moments” to celebrate stages of maturity.
3. Schedule extended one-on-one time at key junctures like turning sixteen or the move into middle school, high school or college – these may be weekend retreats or more extended adventures or trips. (Check out Being There father-young son(ages 8-13) retreat, December 13-15, 2013)

The last verse reflects Dad’s realization that his son did grow up to be just like him. “I said, ‘I’d like to see you if you don’t mind.’ He said, ‘I’d love to Dad if I could find the time.’ … As I hung up the phone, it occurred to me, he’d grown up just like me. My boy was just like me!”

Kids catch what you’ve got – BUSY-ness or FAITHFUL-ness reflects your priorities. Be intentional with your effort to invest time regularly in the father-son relationship and you will be a hero in his eyes.

Share a comment on what you have done or will do to stay engaged with your son.
 

Butterfly Kisses is a popular song written by Bob Carlisle & Randy Thomas. It is often sung at weddings where people like to see grown men cry.

The song starts out: “Two things I know for sure. She was sent here from Heaven, and she’s Daddy’s little girl.” The verses progress to: “Sweet sixteen today …” and then, “She’ll change her name today. She’ll make a promise and I’ll give her away.”

In the middle of the song there is a warning, “Oh the precious time, like the wind the years blow by!” This is the WARNING to dads – we only have so much time. The choices are to invest in that time wisely or look back and wonder where it went.

Investment tips:

1. Talk early and often with Mom and draft a plan to stay emotionally engaged through the school years and beyond.
2. Schedule regular time with your daughter – it may be getting ice cream or playing on her turf at a young age. As she matures, it might be a walk through a park or a dinner date.
3. Schedule extended one-on-one time at key junctures like “sweet sixteen” or the move into middle school, high school or college – these may be weekend retreats or more extended adventures or trips.
   (Check out Being There father-daughter (11-18) retreat, December 6-8, 2013)

The transition from “little girl” to young lady can be a tough one for dad and daughter. “One part woman, the other part girl; to perfume and make-up from ribbons and curls.” Be intentional with your effort to invest time regularly in the father-daughter relationship and you will be a hero in her eyes. “In all that I’ve done wrong, I must have done something right to deserve her hug every morning and butterfly kisses at night.”

Comment below on what you have done or will do to stay engaged with your “little girl”.