Dear Daddies Everywhere

DEAR DADDIES EVERYWHERE
When did it happen?
This little boy turned into a little man.
I wanted to squeeze him tight, and whisper urgings to ‘please stop growing so fast’.

I could see him as I rode my bike his way. Walking alone from my dad’s house to his own. I stopped and asked where his little feet were taking him.
“I’m getting my fishing pole” he replied.
His next words hit me hard~
”My daddy told me he trusts me”.

Was he really that old already?
Wasn’t it just yesterday he was sitting on his daddy’s lap?
What happened to my baby grandson?
He was a little man.
Alone, fetching his fishing supplies.

I smiled as I watched him gather them up and walk back to my dad’s. He informed me he didn’t need any help. I watched as he put the worm on his hook, as he threw his line out and reeled It in. Over and over. All by himself.

A little man that his dad trusted.

I thought about the man who was teaching him. His daddy. I thought about all the lessons and habits he would imitate just from watching him. Even now he wanted to be like him. Casting and re-casting. Not giving up.

And I thought about his little eyes looking up into his dad’s and seeing a picture of his Heavenly Daddy.

We as moms can get so overwhelmed in the mothering, but the same holds true for dads. Sometimes the responsibilities of being a father can be overwhelming.

But time passes quickly and every action and reaction shows your children a picture of God and how they will view Him. Whether that means a daddy that has patience, mercy and forgiveness, comfort and love, or a daddy that gets angry easily and has no time for his children because his life is too busy.

Daddies everywhere, I wonder if your Heavenly Father is looking down at you and saying- I’m trusting you. I’m trusting you to be a picture of me to your children, the children I gave you. I’m trusting you to teach them through your actions what forgiveness and mercy mean.

What love means.

What being a daddy is all about.
I’m trusting you.

There might be times that you mess up, but just like my little man kept putting the worms on his hook and casting his line, he did not give up. Ultimately he wanted his daddy to be proud of him.

One day you will be watching this little man of yours as he holds his newborn son.
No longer your little boy. You will wish for more time. You will wish for that moment back. That moment he was sitting on your lap as you taught him to fish. You will have to let go and trust him to be the daddy God wants Him to be.

He will teach his son all the things that you taught him.

Four generations all present as my grandson cast his line that day. His daddy, his BaPa and his Pops all stood watching. I’m sure for my husband and dad, many memories came flooding back of moments with their own boys at this age. Just like it was yesterday. The time is fleeting. They are grown and gone before you know it.

Daddies everywhere, does your son see Jesus in you? Do you strive to be like Jesus in everything you do?
Is that what he will remember?

Don’t give up.
Keep up the work.
Be that example to your children.
Strive to be like your Heavenly Father.
Be that picture of Jesus they need to see.
It’s never too late.

Your Heavenly Father is looking down and telling you~ those children are a gift I gave to you.

I trust you.
Show them a picture of me.