Count your blessings. Sometimes they are obvious – A milestone realized; a child being born; a move into a new level of relationship with a son or daughter; an anniversary. And sometimes they are not as obvious – A job loss; a child in an unhealthy relationship; an addiction; a bad health diagnosis.
At times we have no idea what the Lord may be up to but we do know He is sovereign. It is tough even as a mature Christian to see how the Lord causes all things to work together for good to those who love Him (Romans 8:28a). One of dad’s key roles is to provide kids with the direction and encouragement needed to gain understanding of how the Lord’s blessings shape them.
As soon as Jesus was baptized, He went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on Him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is My Son, Whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” – Matthew 3: 16-17. The Heavenly Father said a blessing over His Son at the start of His ministry and again at the transfiguration in Matthew 17:4-5. Jesus’ journey after each blessing encountered peaks and valleys but He knew His Father was using it all for good. Jesus knew because He lived with an eternal perspective in this world. As men, husbands and fathers, we may hear about an eternal perspective on Sundays and talk about it in Bible studies but we operate day to day under a temporal view. We do live in this world but we are not to be of this world. That requires an understanding that all we do and have is by the Lord’s grace and for His glory. I know I can reflect on times where He protected me and my family when I could not; He provided in a crunch when I fell short; He comforted a loved one by giving me words I do not usually speak; He filled gaps when I failed to step up as the father my kids needed; and, He continues to help me grow in an ability to love as He loves. Reflection on life helps one see how many times there were indeed one set of footprints in the sand as Jesus carried us through a valley of life. Dads in turn are charged to help kids see how Jesus is real in their lives as they mature. Blessings should be counted daily, especially at times of prayer and praise with the kids. I also encourage formal blessings over children at key junctures in life. If the Heavenly Father thought it important to bless His Son, dads should plan and orchestrate times of formal blessing over children to affirm, empower and launch them on their life journey with an eternal perspective in this world.
Tips for Blessing your children:
- Praise God for your child as you pray together;
- Affirm your child often in who they are and Whose they are;
- Empower your child at every opportunity by recognizing accomplishments and giftedness; and,
- Launch an adult child with a blessing for life beyond the family home;
- Read Seasons of Fathering for specific suggestions on when and how to bless children.
Prayer guide: Father, thank You for the many blessings in my life and the example of blessing Your Son. I confess I have allowed myself to get caught up in the temporal and have failed to encourage my family with an eternal perspective. Forgive me. I want to emulate You by affirming, empowering and launching my children through blessings. That is the dad You call me to be and that’s the dad my kids need to see. Amen.
A faithful father affirms, empowers and launches children through blessings.
