Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. (Psalm 127:3-5a)
Fatherhood eh.
I have one good friend who is close to becoming a Dad, another who has had the privilege for a few months, and one who has been one for almost a year. Hearing all their various challenges makes for fascinating conversation and also gives me a chance to share from my own issues being a dad of three beautiful girls.
This isn’t the first time I’ve written about fatherhood (read this entry to get me last insight). It is worth reiterating that actually being a Dad is a very cool thing indeed. Helping to nurture and shape the character of those that will go ahead of you and witnessing their own development is more interesting than any other human endeavour other than being a husband.
Having three children and noting their different characters and flexing around them seeking to understand them and also getting them to understand things of life is frustrating and fun. Frustrating because they mirror my own ability to grasp things! As in nodding the head suggesting I’ve taken on board the information and subsequently forgetting it in the light of far more pressing issues (like watching TV, having something to eat, crying because someone took my favourite toy). Fun because despite their lapses, they are adorable children who genuinely have a heart to learn – as long as you get their sweet spot for learning. They have these years to have fun in their childhood, free from the responsibilities that await them, though witnessing it through their parents.
In my diversion my youngest and middle child enjoyed their birthdays and despite the diversion I think their birthdays went very well. Zozoz – the youngest one – turned two and has been helped considerably by her older sisters in her development and is so switched on it’s scary, in a good way. Abi-Stax – the middle child – turned six and has celebrated her birthday for the first time in the same place of residence that she celebrated it the year before. That’s a big deal for me, that’s a step towards her having some sort of continuity and stability. Their mother puts herself out so they can celebrate these special days in their lives and I commend her highly for her motherhood skills and how she sacrifices all in the bid that her offspring may have life to enjoy.
My Dad also visited me over the diversion and so it put a lot of things in perspective in terms of what it must be from his position to have the honour and horror of being responsible for fathering me in those early years. I’m not sure if I ever brought my Dad the same delight that my children give me, but it’s clear in the way he loves me and my siblings that he certainly still delights in being Dad to us.
I hope to develop that delight in the years to come so that my daughters will through it all know that there’s nothing they can do to earn my love that I take joy in loving them because they are gifts from God who bring me to my knees in praise of His great masterpieces in creation. The Psalm reference at the start of this piece talked about children being like arrows, and updating it I guess it would be seen as bullets, and considering the girls entrusted to me, I am grateful that my gun is loaded with some great bullets destined to make an unforgettable impact on the world around them because of their great Mum, their alright Dad and most importantly because they have a heavenly Father who delights in them.
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
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Life With CD 