A dad took his young daughter to the bank to open her own savings account. When she handed her $25 cash to the bank teller, she asked how they knew the difference between a counterfeit bill and a regular bill. The teller said that she was trained so well to recognize every nuance of the legal tender that any counterfeit was immediately obvious.

Dad saw this as a great analogy for a spiritual lesson. On the way home, he commended his daughter on the great question she asked of the bank teller. Then he said, “Like a counterfeit bill, in life we must know right from wrong. How do you tell the difference?” “Well,” she replied, “You and mom are teaching me what is right. Anything wrong will be obvious.” The dad lifted up a prayer that her discernment would always be that clear.

But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them – bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. – 2Peter 2:1-2. … Way of truth into disrepute … Truth has been, and always will be under fire in this world. It seems truth has become so contorted, subjective within the culture, that there are no absolutes. Right is wrong, and wrong is right under subjective truth. Dads must be on top of their game to stay in tune with what daughters are exposed to. It is not possible or practical to isolate children, even in the spirit of protecting them. It is possible to stay engaged and involved with intentional effort to keep avenues of communication open and healthy.

Tips to keep avenues of communication open and healthy:

• Read Alisa Childers’ Live Your Truth, and Other Lies together (teen daughters);
• Take her shopping for back-to-school clothes and have fun with it;
• Establish a routine date night and other one-on-one activities;
• Volunteer as a chaperone for the youth group or a school activity;
• Lead spiritual discussion in the home at least once a week;
• Schedule a weekend retreat and/or extended trip as an intentional effort to mature in relationship with your daughter as she matures.

Prayer guide: Lord, thank You for Your Word and for my daughter. I confess I have let my eyes show disengagement during discussions and I have failed to get interested in what she is interested in. Forgive me. I do want to get to know my daughter better and let her get to know me. Help me identify opportunities to be engaged and involved by keeping avenues of communication open and healthy. That is the dad You call me to be, and that is the dad my daughter needs. Amen.

A faithful father keeps avenues of communication open and healthy.