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Every one needs to hear at least 3 things over their lifetime from a father/mother, spouse, or mentor. He/she needs to hear:
1. “I love you.” We need to hear that verbally, specifically, face-to-face; eyeball-to-eyeball. 2. We need to hear, “I’m proud of you.” 3. We need to hear, “You’re good at ______________” and whatever they are good at, the blank needs to be filled in. Look at the example of God, the Father. As you go through the pages of the New Testament over the life of Jesus, there are 6 times God the Father breaks into time and space and we hear His voice verbally speak to Jesus Christ. It’s interesting, on every one of those occasions, He says pretty much the same thing. He says to Jesus these words, “This is My beloved Son in whom I am well-pleased. Listen to Him.” And in that moment, we hear this affirmation; this commendation from a father to his Son that’s so desperately needed by every person. “This is My beloved Son”(I love You). “In whom I am well-pleased.” (I’m proud of You). “Listen to Him.”(telling those around Him, because this Man has something to say; He’s good.). The Father said this to His, Son, Jesus Christ. If it was important for the Father to say it to Jesus Christ, how much more do we need to give that to sons/daughters/spouses/mentees during their very difficult journey? Within all the activities we do and the presence we provide, there needs to be deposited specific and strategic thoughts, information and empowerment that makes him/her able to stand in the storm of life. If you’re in that position, say it. If it is said to you, listen to it. (this article is adapted from a Robert Lewis talk)
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It’s an amazing thing to have a great dad like I have! I’m painfully aware, however, that all don’t have this. But here’s what one looks like:
*He’s THERE. My dad made sure he was at all my important events as a kid. Ball games, the lake, CHURCH, in the hospital when I broke stuff, and watching me work at the jobs HE came up with. BE THIS! *He’s a RESCUER. I could count on dad to be there when I was in trouble – and I was! He “delivered me from evil” more than a few times. He set me straight A LOT, with patience, not anger. BE THIS! *He’s an EXAMPLE. My mom and dad carried on in front of me. It was PG, but it was there. I know how to love a woman because he showed me. He was an example in a ton of things, but this comes to mind. He said, “I love you” a lot to his family. BE THIS! *He’s REAL. I saw my dad cry more than once – for all the right reasons. Spiritual reasons. Disappointment and pain-type reasons. BE THIS! *He’s DURABLE. I watched him get hit hard in life by some things in ministry, family and personally. He got back up. Every. Single. Time. BE THIS! *He’s a true FOLLOWER of Christ. Lasting image – my dad on the porch in the mornings with coffee and a Bible in hand. I do that now. BE THIS! *He’s FOR YOU. Dad always had dreams for me. He wasn’t living through me, so he adjusted often, but he did dream greatness for me – in football (which I eventually left for basketball), in life, in school, in marriage and now in ministry. You need someone to dream with you – to believe in you. He did that. BE THIS! THERE’S MORE. But if you begin here, you’ll figure out the rest. Get after it, dad. |
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