The Dad I Want To Be
I don’t want to be the dad who yells. I don’t want to be the dad who is intimidating. I don’t want to be the dad who doesn’t hug or kiss his kids. I don’t want to be the dad who is never there. I don’t want to be the dad who gets mad because his little child disturbs him while he’s reading.
God has given me grace to avoid most of those things most of the time. I’m not close to being the perfect dad. But I want to be the dad who rejoices over his children.
So even when the kids have been unbelievably challenging, when I lay them down to sleep, I rejoice over them with gladness. I kiss him. I lean down close to that little ear and whisper, “You are my beloved son. I am well pleased with you.” I kiss her and lean close to whisper, “You are my precious daughter. I am well pleased with you.”
And here’s the kicker for me. Here’s what blows my mind for those of us who have been adopted by God in Christ. If I being evil know how to rejoice over my children with gladness, how much more will our heavenly Father rejoice over his children with gladness. How much more lovingly will he lean down and whisper, “Because of Christ, you are my beloved son. Because of him, I am well pleased with you.”
The Lord your God is in your midst,
a mighty one who will save;
he will rejoice over you with gladness;
he will quiet you by his love;
he will exult over you with loud singing. (Zephaniah 3:17)
