What kind of dad do I want to be?
There are so many fatherly role models I could look to; my own father, biblical fathers, and of course TV dads.
My own Dad was a great dad. He was always around when I needed him, and I can’t think of anyone who ever worked harder to provide for his kids. And he did it twice! Eighteen years apart! His second son was already eighteen when his third son (me) was born. Was he perfect? No, but if I could be even half the kind of dad he was, my kids should have a pretty good life. (Although, I would like to have a slightly better grip on the concept of time management. Alas, however, I notice more and more that I am losing that battle.)
Let’s look at TV dad’s for a minute.
I’ve always said that Al Bundy is the greatest TV dad. This is not exactly true. Yes, he loves his family, and yes, he has beaten up a number of his daughter’s boyfriends (with the patented slam into the doorframe), but come on, I can do better.[1]
Andy Griffith?
Meh, too much wholesome, not enough edge.
Red Forman?
I’d need more feet…
Ray Barone?
I think my mom may be offended if I make this comparison.
Ok, TV may not be the best place to look. Let’s try the Bible.
There’s Abraham.
Whoa! Hold the Phone! Didn’t he take his son to a mountain to murder him?[2]
Yes, he did, but he did it because God told him to. Let’s back up a bit.
You’ve got Abram. He’s an old man, like 100, and he’s only ever had one kid. This kids name is Ishmael, but he wasn’t born of Abram’s wife. God says that Abram and his wife, Sarah, also an old lady, are going to have a son of their own; they laugh. Well God makes them have a baby, and to get them back for laughing at him, God inserts laughter (or a “ha”) into Abram’s name.[3]
So Abraham is all happy, he’s got a new kid who’s awesome, and God has sent his concubine and Ishmael away.[4] God, however, wants to see how faithful Abraham really is, so he tells him to take Isaac up a mountain and kill him as a sacrifice, and Abraham decides to.
Why does that mean he’s a good dad?
Because he does what God asks. He takes his newly give son up the mountain and prepares to kill him, but God stops him at the last minute. Because of Abraham’s faith, he was allowed to keep his son.[5]
I want to be that dad!
I want to hear God’s command and do it. Yeah, it may be a sucky decision to have to make, but I want to always make the faithful Godly decision.[6] I want to be able to set that kind of example for my son/daughter.
But the Bible dad hall of fame award winner goes to…
Joseph!
Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat Joseph?
No.
Joseph of Arimithea?
No.
Jesus’s stepdad?
Yes!
Let’s not argue about the fact that Joseph was not Jesus’ biological father, because it’s that fact that makes me want to be like that.
God saw this man, a Godly man descended from David, and said,
“You there! I want you to care for my only begotten son.”
That right there is a BIG responsibility. You can’t take that lightly. God was placing his baby child, the only hope for humanity’s salvation, his perfect sacrifice, into a human’s hands.
I want to be that guy. I want God to see me and trust me enough to give me an amazing piece of his plan to carry out. I want to be God’s go to guy, and I want to treasure my child as much Joseph must have treasured Jesus.
So what have I learned in this blog?
I must be my own kind of dad.
I can look to my dad, and Biblical dads, and (God help me) TV dads all I want, but I have to learn on my own how to be a good dad. If I am faithful to God, loving to my family, and work to serve them both, I should be fine.
Right?
[1] This is not to say I am giving up the ideals of NO MA’AM (National Organization of Men Against Amazonian Masterhood.)
[2] Something you might be saying right now.
[3] Yeah, I made that up, but Isaac does mean He Will Laugh.
[4] Presumably to hunt the white whale.
[5] And become the patriarch of the Jewish faith.
[6]I hope I never actually have to make the decision whether or not to kill my own child.
[7] Drum roll
[8] Last foot note, I promise.
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