For whom the LORD loves He corrects, Just as a father the son in whom he delights. Proverbs 3:12 (NKJV)
In his blog, George P. Wood speaks of his experience becoming a foster parent of two girls ages 19 months and two months, when he was 44 years old himself. 18 months later, they had to return them to their parents after they completed the necessary treatment which enabled them to have their daughters back. As he reflected on the time he and his wife had with their two foster daughters, he shares what he learned – these are valuable lessons for all of us who are dads:
Time Flies. Make the Most of It. As he writes, “Our last day with the girls is scheduled for July 27. If my calculations are correct, on that date, they will have been with us for 590 days. That amounts to 14,160 hours, which is equal to 849,600 minutes, which divides up into 50,976,000 seconds. Those are big numbers, but they represent fleeting opportunities. And they fly quickly.”
All of us who have seen our children grow right before our eyes can attest to that. Those babies we brought home from the hospital, whose diapers we changed, woke up one day ready for school, drove themselves away to college, walked down the aisle to be married, and became adults in what seemed like a few days. Make the best of every day you have them and create lots of memories for them and for you.
Memories Matter. Make the Best of Them. During the time the Woods had their two foster daughters, they celebrated birthdays and holidays and bought them gifts, clothes, and necessities. Yet, he writes, “Those are not the things they will remember. Toys break. Children outgrow them. What matters are the memories we made together.” He adds, “As a father, it is tempting-and easy-to substitute presents for presence. . . What kids want most is you, not the stuff you can give them. They want your undivided attention, the feeling that they matter to you, whatever you happen to be doing together. So put down that smartphone! Turn off the TV! Go outside and play! Read them a book! Give them a hug! Tell them, ‘I love you.’ Then, do it again. . . As you make memories with your kids, you begin to want memories more than stuff.”
Father God, help me to master the art of fathering with love.
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