Our parents and children are those people we consider the closest and dearest to us. And if there is also spiritual unity between us, then this connection together with kinship ties makes our families so strong and close that you understand how wonderful God's plan is regarding such unions, and constantly thank God for it.
The role of the father's influence on his children is provided for and embedded by God in every union, regardless of place of residence and culture, but only when the behavior and spirit of the head of the family correspond to God's expectations do they have the proper influence on the mind and consciousness of children and form a complete personality in the growing generation.
Mother and father, being one whole and doing one common work in raising children and forming their characters, at the same time have different influence and different forms of service in their family. By his physiology, a father can never give children what their mother has, but at the same time no mother can replace a father for children or show them those masculine characteristics that she simply cannot have by God's design.
Unfortunately, there are many single-parent families and children born out of wedlock in the world, but we will consider the option where a man, even not being a blood father, decided to take responsibility for being a dad and give his children what they desperately need - his masculine participation in their lives.
The first thing every little one who comes into this world needs is to be needed and loved. These are the very first emotional needs of a child, which they feel and understand perfectly. A father, taking his little successor in his arms, fills their spiritual and emotional need and binds this little being to himself with very strong spiritual bonds that are difficult to describe in simple words. The child feels protection and finds peace and tranquility in which they can freely grow and develop.
The father is a prototype of the Heavenly Father and is endowed with Heavenly authority to influence his children and form in them those spiritual values that will subsequently guide their actions and desires. According to God's design, the father is the head of the family and spiritual leader and is endowed with corresponding influence to give children that knowledge which will form their personal opinion in accordance with God's requirements.
Personal example from the father's life and behavior is the most powerful convincing means that teaches children how deeds should correspond to words and instructions.
The father's duties as spiritual leader include the task of directing children's minds to Heavenly truths and teaching the growing generation obedience based on God's commands and expectations. And then by personal example he must demonstrate this obedience in his life. A praying father shows children the importance of such connection with God and gives them a model of where to receive strength and inspiration. Reading the Bible to children and reflecting aloud on what was read, the father teaches that the truths of Scripture are important in daily life and are spiritual bread without which it's impossible to live fully.
Engaging in service to his family and other people, the head of the family shows children how to practically apply received knowledge and how deeds should correspond to God's principles.
With his love for good and abhorrence of evil, a wise father demonstrates the difference between good and evil and lays a solid foundation of such attitude in young consciousness. Children, observing daddy's principled stance, his honesty, his kindness and tenderness, adopt these soul qualities into their lives and behave exactly the same way. Observing the father's patience, seeing his industriousness, diligence, principled stance, responsibility, it will be easy for young observers to practice similar things in their own lives.
The father's strictness together with his tenderness and mercy instills in children a sense of security and justice. They are not afraid to trust one who loves them, and are ready to confess all their sins and mistakes, understanding that it's difficult to hide anything from daddy, and there's no need to. And the sense of safety makes children fearless in exploring this world and in practicing various principles, which opens their new creative features.
Time spent in the company of their loving father, children consider the most valuable and significant pastime, in which they constantly learn something, are taught something and simply enjoy this society. What does a small, soft and warm child's hand, trustingly placed in the father's hand, give? This is inexplicable joy for a man when he feels this and understands that this child's life is entrusted to him, and that he is valued so much that they are not afraid to walk hand in hand with him. Although this is a short-term experience, it forms something very important in daddy's heart regarding the one who entrusts themselves to him.
The father with his strictness instills in children love for discipline and teaches them that any transgression should be justly punished, and every good deed should become the norm of behavior in their home. And love for discipline and order based on the Bible shows children the immutability of all God's requirements and those blessings that belong to obedient people.
By honoring his parents, the father teaches his children how to honor their parents.
Daddy's love for his wife lays the foundation in children's consciousness for their future family happiness. This teaches sons how to properly treat a woman, and shows girls an example of how a worthy man should behave toward them. The father's love for their mother and tender attitude toward the queen of the family clearly shows children what love is, how it manifests itself, how beautiful it is and how much benefit it brings to everyone. A father loving his wife is an image of God loving His Church.
Agreement and mutual respect between parents and tender attitude toward the weaker teaches children life in society and the importance of being part of one team, where everyone has their duties and works for the common good. And in such a society it's easy to achieve set goals and solve difficult tasks.
The father lays in children not only principles of correct behavior for the present time, but also forms a beautiful future for his children who, being instructed in good things in childhood, will preserve these values until old age and will be guided by those principles they were taught in their father's house.
Examples from the life of Joseph in Egypt or Daniel and his friends in Babylon show the power of parental upbringing in action.
The father influences with his authority the choice of life path and spiritual values in his home. He establishes family traditions and sets family holidays. He shows how to properly exit conflicts and how not to allow them. The father protects his home from outside influence and fights against any other spirit that will try to destroy family happiness.
A wise father understands that his children are given to him for a short time, to teach them right things and then release them into the raging world, in which they must themselves choose the course for their ship and invite aboard those with whom they decide to make joint voyages.
Questions for Reflection
Please read Exodus 20:12; Psalm 77:5-7; 102:13; Hebrews 12:5-11; Proverbs 10:1; 14:26; 17:6; 20:7; 23:22; Acts 16:31; Ephesians 6:1-4, in light of this lesson. What other verses from the Bible came to your mind? What did you understand from this lesson? Who is a father? What is the difference between a father's influence on his children and a mother's influence? Why is the father's personal example important for raising children? Is it important for a father to know and understand his role and purpose in the family? What advantage do these knowledge give him? How does the father's prayer help children understand the importance of connection with God? Why is it important for a father to read the Bible to children and give them instructions based on what was read? How does serving his family help a father teach children the principles of God's teachings? How does a strict yet tender father influence children's sense of security? Why should there be a combination of strictness and tenderness in a father? How does love for discipline and order help children understand God's requirements? Will a loving father correctly represent to his children the image of God?