Dad Profits

Turn a profit on whatever good your dad gave you.

Dads are a big deal, whether we like it or not. God reveals Himself as a Father to a Son, He reveals Himself as Father to us, and fathers represent our Father in heaven (Ephesians 3:15), either better or worse.

Many men realize that there are a lot of things that their fathers did not teach them or model for them. Among Christians who are more thoughtful about being good dads, the higher our standard the easier to see how we don’t, and how previous generations didn’t, meet it. And of course there are always cases where someone’s dad was altogether unhelpful, if not hurtful.

But as men we can do two things better. First, we can give thanks for whatever good we were given. Was it food on the table? Not divorcing mom? Showing up at any events? These are low bars, but they are not nothing. Hopefully there were more. Did he take you to church? Did he treat your friends well? Honor your father by seeing and saying thanks to God.

And then second, turn a profit on whatever good your dad gave to you. If you’re fairly sure that he loved you but hardly said or expressed it, then make sure that you tell your kids, hug them, show that they can and do please you. Turn a little into more. Let there be food on the table and a little more laughter around it. Maybe you didn’t inherit a huge amount of resources, but who says you can’t feed even more souls with a few loaves and fishes by the Father’s grace?

Do you have a generational pattern to break? Good. Do you have a family pattern to build on? Give thanks and get to it.