The father's role in raising a child, by many criteria, doesn't differ from the mother's role when they together do everything that depends on them for raising their children. But each parent has their own characteristics that the other doesn't have, so children need both feminine and masculine participation in forming a complete character.
The father's influence on his son is just as strong and important as on his daughter and in many spheres of personality formation it doesn't differ at all. But the very fact that the father is an adult man, and his son is a little man who is only learning to live, greatly influences the son's inheritance of masculine qualities that his mother can never give him.
If children are not raised at all, but only fed and clothed, then they will somehow grow up, but what they will be in adult life is not difficult to imagine.
A son doesn't choose his parents, and parents will receive in their old age what they raise. Someone said that parents shouldn't spend much time on raising children because their children will be like them anyway. The influence and personal example of father and mother's relationships, in all spheres of life, leaves an indelible trace in the child's consciousness. The growing mind is arranged to be transformed into what it looks upon.
Boys tend to respect stronger guys and they like to imitate courageous men. And a believing father is precisely that clear example of strength of spirit, will, love and physical activity, which he skillfully applies for constructive purposes without aggression. The son sees how daddy knows how to make decisions and solve complex questions, and remembers many moments from the father's behavior to later try them in his own life.
Being a spiritual leader and mentor, a believing father teaches his son how the family priest should behave, what personal relationships he has with God, how he prays for all family members and how he conducts home spiritual gatherings. And it is precisely the father who gives his son an example of spiritual leadership and teaches him to take responsibility for this role as head of the family.
The father teaches his son discipline and, as a rule, is the strict authority for carrying out all kinds of punishments. The father's requirements for children's behavior are always strict, but they skillfully combine respect, wisdom, gentleness, love and principled stance.
The father is the protector of his family not only from physical attacks, but also from any evil spirit or ungodly influence from outside. He foresees danger and does everything possible so that no evil touches members of his family. Sons seeing such a fatherly approach to life begin to imitate the strong daddy in their behavior.
Of course, physical culture and all kinds of sports activities are more in the father's prerogative, and are very simply and wisely passed on to sons, where daddy not only teaches to overcome physical loads, but also explains the benefit from such training and teaches that strength is needed to protect the weak and help the exhausted.
In respectful and loving attitude toward his wife, daughters, his mother, the father lays in his son's heart a model of similar attitude toward women, and toward that girl who will be chosen by him to create his family. The father also teaches that the most important thing a husband should understand is his responsibility before Heaven, before his wife and before those children whom God will give them.
As a rule, fathers spend most of their time away from home at work, which teaches the son that he will also have to take care of himself and his family, earning daily bread and means for living by the sweat of his brow. If mom, by circumstances, is not employed, then over time the son begins to understand where money comes from at home and who is their main provider, which prepares the young mind for similar responsibility in his own family. And such influence of the father is so convincing for his son that when creating his own family, the young man will not argue with his wife about who will earn in their family.
This question is already written in his heart by his father's hand and he joyfully enters this role of provider and doesn't force his wife to pull this harness equally with him.
There are many types of work at home and outside it that are traditionally performed by men and the father plays an irreplaceable role of teacher and mentor in this, freeing the feminine half from such activities. And in this work the father teaches his son to wisely approach solving various questions, find ways out of difficult situations, take responsibility and achieve successful completion of work by the set time. The father instills in his son respect for labor and teaches him not to be afraid of difficult work that eyes fear but hands do.
Men are more resistant to emotional expression of their thoughts and feelings. The father passes this skill to his son, showing by personal example how to resist evil and calmly endure many trials. The father teaches that strength is not in anger and shouting, but in the ability to restrain oneself when feelings want to break out.
A believing father teaches his son by his personal example to honor God, serve Him, worship in spirit and truth. All spiritual instructions of the father, supported by God's Word, will have their influence on the son's formation and will help the young man in the future make right decisions. The young man learns to be courageous and submissive to God.
The father teaches his son healthy competition, where any rivalry is not humiliation of another, but improvement of oneself, that honesty in life and affairs should always be a priority, even if this doesn't bring desired profit. After all, truthfulness will preserve the honor and dignity of any person, and respect for freedom of choice will add many new friends.
The father teaches his son to calculate his steps ahead and make plans for the future, and then confidently carry out what was planned and be consistent.
By the example of communication and friendship with other men, the father clearly shows his son the power of friendliness, faithfulness in relationships, mutuality of love and how the Lord brings together such people in whom many recognize Christ's disciples.
In many life questions the father teaches his son to make independent decisions and independence from others' opinions, to build his own life and not live by other people's expectations. This makes the young man a mature and self-confident man who, at the same time, knows how to rely on God in everything.
Teaching financial literacy is one of many sciences that the father teaches his boy for a long time, initially giving an example with small amounts given just like that, teaching how to properly manage this, and then expanding this to more complex tasks, such as budget planning, savings and investments.
The father, being the leader of the family and acting as head, gives his son an idea of what a real man should be like. All those spiritual values and principles that are manifested in daddy's life have special significance for his son. Only a father can form masculine identity in his son because he is a clear example of courage, faithfulness, responsibility and faith, which is very valuable in Heaven's eyes.
Questions for Reflection
Please read Genesis 18:19; Proverbs 14:26; 17:6; 19:18; 20:7,29; 23:24; 29:17; 1 Timothy 5:8; Nehemiah 4:14; Psalm 126:4; 127:3-4; 143:12; 1 Thessalonians 2:11-12, in light of this lesson. What other verses from the Bible came to your mind? What did you understand from this lesson? Do you think a father can replace a mother in upbringing matters, and if yes, in what situations? What does it mean to be a spiritual leader and mentor for your son? Why does a son imitate his father more than his mother? How can a father teach his son to make decisions in difficult situations? What masculine qualities can a father pass to his son that a mother cannot give? How does a father form respectful attitude toward women in his son? Is it important for a father to show his son how to love his wife and care for her? What can't a mother give her son? Why is it so important that a father also influence the young man's upbringing? How important is it for a father to spend time with his son despite being busy? Is there anything common between the earthly father's influence and the Heavenly Father's influence? What should mothers do who have no husbands but have little sons?