Fatherhood means so much more than just giving life to a life unlived, it means dreaming of things yet undreamed, and sustaining hope in a hopeless world. It means being there for my children through thick and thin, and not walking out on my family when things get tough. It means a Christ-like sacrificial love for their mother who gave them life, while providing for my family, and defending and protecting them from the evil influences of this world. It means setting the example by reading God’s word with my family, and going to church with them, not just letting them go on their own. It means untiring prayer in exhausting circumstances; and leading them through a wilderness of sin when all they can see is a godless generation before them. It means showing them God in that godless world, and choosing to remain faithful to Him when my own and their faith is struggling to live.
Fatherhood means seeing each of my children as individuals, loving them as equals, respecting them as little people. It means being careful with my words and actions, which influence young minds and hearts for good or evil. It means respecting and nurturing their budding sexuality without allowing myself or others to hurtfully infringe on its natural progression in their lives. Fatherhood entails an absolute acceptance of who each of my children are as a person, while leading them with a firm spiritual guidance in an evil and ungodly world, and having an unconditional love and forgiveness for them when I am disappointed in their words or actions. It means choosing to love them when my children are unlovable. It means not seeing their imperfections as permanent flaws, but as opportunities to grow and learn more about themselves. It means showing them my own imperfections, while trusting that they can also learn from me and become better than I ever hoped to be as a human being. It means not trying to live my life through them, but allowing them to be who God meant them to be. Fatherhood confirms to me that life is not without hope, that the future is in God’s hands, and that my life will continue through them when I have gone on to be with Him.
Fatherhood is the greatest gift God gave to mankind, to know that we are instruments in His Creation, to know that we participated in His purpose and plan for life on earth and in the hereafter. Fatherhood is life, and hopes, and dreams; it is failures and disappointments, repentance and forgiveness. It is perseverance in parenting a new people for Jesus, overcoming life’s trials through Him who overcame the world, and showing the next generation how to overcome the world by the word of their testimony and by the Lamb of God. It means sharing the truth of Christ’s redemptive plan to a new generation that they may go unto all the world. . . .
Happy Father’s Day!
An Essay on Motherhood
About mamaheartfilled
I am a mother of eight wonderfully challenging children and fourteen grandkids, of whom I am very proud. I am also a bi-vocational ordained evangelical minister, and a Christian Counselor. I received my B.S. degree in 2004, studying primarily in the areas of Psychology, with minors in Religion and English. I received my Masters Degree in 2009 in Psychological Counseling with an emphasis in Christian Counseling. I have endeavored to paraphrase the Bible, both Old and New Testaments. It is my hope that it will be of some use in the great commission of Christ. My ministry is primarily geared toward victims of sexual and domestic violence, including victims of childhood sexual abuse, whether currently or in the past. Since I have personally experienced the healing hand of God in overcoming many of the life issues that Christians may face, I feel qualified and compelled to discuss them in a truthful and open manner, as God’s word tells us that “We shall know the truth and the truth shall set us free.” God has brought me through such diverse tribulations as sexual, physical, and mental abuse, being a victim of a drunk driving accident, spousal pornography addiction, adultery, divorce, remarriage, a very brief, though unjust, incarceration, and having experienced multiple miscarriages and various other trials. I have been asked to leave two Southern Baptist Churches, due to my being a female, ordained as a minister, and fired from a SBC sponsored Christian School (mostly white) for speaking out against racial prejudice in the Family of God. Through God’s merciful forgiveness of my own sins and inadequacies and God’s grace given to me to forgive those who have been a stumbling block to me, I have overcome many of these adversities. God’s word tells us that “All things work together for good to those who love the Lord and are called according to the purposes of God." Since I have this hope, I believe that God has blessed me with the ability to confront and relate these issues to the Christian community around the world. I hope to be able to use my personal experiences as a ministry of God’s grace and in the comforting of the people of God with the truth of God's mercy. I claim II Corinthians 1: 3 & 4 as my calling, which states: “Blessed be God, the Origin of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Origin of mercies, and the God of comfort; who comforts us in all our troubles, that we may be able to comfort those who are in trouble, by the comfort we ourselves have been given by God.” As I have received the gift of God’s healing, I hope to be able to bring the peace beyond understanding to others with the message of God’s mercy and grace. My love for the Sovereign Lord of my life, Jesus Christ, along with my passion for writing has drawn me to explore these commonly experienced crisis issues from the perspective of my own experience in the hope that I may bring an empathetic and compassionate insight to God’s people. I am now a published author and have several books in publication, including my autobiography, "A Little Redneck Theology." The views expressed in my writings are strictly my own insights, acquired from personal experience and diligent study of the related topics and God’s word concerning them. Though I am an ordained minister, my views should not be considered authoritative. I believe that the Christian community’s ultimate authority is the guidance of the human heart by the Holy Spirit and the Word of God.
Go Fish Ministries, Inc 
The father’s role is so critical in the foundation and future lives or our kids. We’ve been reading a great new, actually renewed book, I think all dads with daughters would enjoy. We’re loving it, so I have to share… It’s called “She Calls Me Daddy: 7 Things You Need to Know About Building a Complete Daughter,” by Robert Wolgemuth. Originally released in the 90s, it was a best seller. His girls are grown up and give their own input along with their husbands who are daddies to girls. I understand 40% of the book is new material. It’s so unique in this way. Robert puts the anxieties of Daddy raising his girl(s) to rest, guiding you through challenges and good times – protecting, conversation, affection, discipline, laughter, faith, conduct. So great for helping daddies learn to lead, love and cherish. I highly recommend it! http://www.tyndale.com/She-Calls-Me-Daddy/9781589977853#.U7jH414Q7wI
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Reblogged this on Go Fish Ministries, Inc and commented:
It means showing them my own imperfections, while trusting that they can also learn from me and become better than I ever hoped to be as a human being.
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