Be The Dad Today

“Please be patient, God isn’t finished with me yet.”

“God give me patience, but give it to me NOW!”

“I’m so efficient, I can watch 60-Minutes in a half hour!”

As men, we are in such a hurry. In fact, we’ve gotten so good at it – sometimes we have forgotten why we were in a hurry in the first place! Believe it or not, there are some days – whole weeks even – where there isn’t truly anything urgent, but we just feel urgency because we’ve conditioned ourselves that way! It’s become our default mode.

Don’t get me wrong – there are times we need to get it in gear! There are deadlines. Stress will never be eliminated. But it doesn’t have to be a permanent state of mind, and it CAN be set aside.

AND IT MUST BE when we are with our kids.

• Your child can sense when you are rushed.
• Your child can tell if you’d rather be elsewhere.
• Your child knows if something is more important than him.
• Your child senses if you are wanting to get away from her.

Our impatience is a sign that we have lost sight of what truly matters – of what will last – of what we will miss someday. And of unrealistic expectations on our children. The Bible says:

Whoever is patient has great understanding, but one who is quick-tempered displays folly.
– Proverbs 14:29

We are foolish when we are impatient with our kids, because we display a lack of understanding for what they are capable of – but worse, we drive a wedge in our relationship with them. When we are patient we create the opportunity to invest in the relationship by to deepening their love for us. Why?  When we are relaxed and more concerned about them than the clock, we show that they are important to us and have value.

As men we want to be STRONG! But too often, we think that strength is best shown in taking charge and getting our kids to hurry up. The truth is, that strength may be better shown in sitting down and being patient. Consider the words of a great King who once penned these words:

Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city.
– Proverbs 16:32

So the next time your kids are driving you nuts and you think you are about to lose it, sit down and be patient. Be that calm, quiet, patient warrior and realize – all too soon the house will be quiet, and the patience you will be working on, is waiting for them to come visit you and bring the grandchildren.

So sit down and watch them and enjoy. A patient dad will enjoy the sights and sounds of childhood, before they are gone.