Daughters and Dads

Daughters & Dads

They were on the third day of a backpacking adventure and making a day trip to summit a peak. It was a chilly, misty morning and the hike was strenuous for both of them. But when they reached the summit, the sun broke through and it was absolutely breathtaking! God was showing off His creation.

As all were relaxing and eating lunch, the trip guides started throwing ropes off the back side of the peak. His daughter asked what they were doing. Dad said it looked like the plan was going to be to rappel down. Neither of them had rappelled before. She said, “I am scared.” Dad said, “I am too, but we can trust the guides.”

“But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” – John 14:26-27. Jesus’ disciples did not like the idea of Him leaving. He comforts them saying His Father will send the Holy Spirit to teach and remind them of His teaching. Then Jesus said, “My peace I give to you.” Jesus was not saying, “Everything will be lovely and comfortable in life from now on.” Peace here is the same word Aaron used when he blessed the Israelites in Numbers 6:24-26, “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn His face toward you and grant you peace.” Peace is a translation of shalom. In its most expressive sense shalom is: the positive state of rightness and well-being in the midst of battle. The peace Jesus gave the disciples provided the grounding to not be troubled or afraid but to stay the course and see the ministry through. Similarly, dads are charged to instill shalom in their daughters’ hearts, a confidence in who they are and Whose they are, and a trust grounded in their relationship with Jesus the Christ.

The guides set up the ropes so that daughters and dads could rappel side by side. It was a wonderful experience. The daughter and dad were scared together, trusted together, rappelled together and walked together in a new level of relationship with each other grounded in Jesus the Christ from that point on.

Tips for Daughters and Dads:

• Schedule a routine lunch or dinner date – set the standard for future expectations;
• Introduce Scriptural and spiritual perspectives on cultural issues;
• Be present by coaching a team or helping with an extra-curricular activity;
• Teach your daughter how to drive;
• Calendar ‘marker’ retreats, events or trips that complement her interests.

Prayer guide: Thank You Lord for Your word and for my daughter. I confess I thought moms raised daughters and dads raised sons. Forgive me. Thank you for my bride and marriage that opened my eyes to how much a daughter needs her dad to be physically present, engaged emotionally and to lead spiritually. Grant me strength to represent You well in our home and instill Your shalom in my daughter’s heart. That is the dad You call me to be and that is the dad my daughter needs. Amen.

A faithful father instills shalom in his daughter’s heart.