THE HONORABLE, PRESENT DAD
Most men grow up with a burning desire to achieve something special, something great even. Many dream of being a famous athlete. We live in a world that treats sports heroes with great importance. Just think of how many hours most men spend watching sporting events, marveling at the athletic feats of superstar athletes. Men are captivated by their achievements and athletic prowess.
I remember myself as a young teenager, dreaming of growing up and doing something heroic. I played many sports and often envisioned myself making some spectacular play that would make me the hero of the game. Personally, I think this is just part of the way God has hard-wired men.
I watched a documentary on one of my favorite boxers from the 70s. I cheered him on and watched every fight of his I could. His story’s so compelling. Raised in extreme poverty, overcoming terrible adversities, things I had no idea about, even though I saw so many of his fights on his way to the world championship. He was such a humble man, and an extremely hard worker. But, little did I know of the rest of his story. He was the father of 11 children from 6 different women. To be honest, I was stunned to find this out. I would have never guessed that about this man. But it highlights important reflections.
At the end of the day, no matter what the world thought of this man, no matter how great a champion this man was, he was not an honorable man. Nor was he a present father in the lives of his children, as it would be utterly impossible to be in 6 different places all at once.
The interviews with his children were heartbreaking. While on the one hand they were proud of their father for the great boxing champion that he was, individually, each felt great hurt and pain that their dad had not been involved in their lives. He just had no time for them. Partly because he was always trying to be famous, partly because he was chasing other women, and partly because he had fathered so many kids with different women who each demanded what little time he had.
As I watched, it hit me freshly—what a crazy, foolish world we live in that ever idolizes or heaps praise on these kinds of men. The sports commentators, the advertisers, the media, and the fans all fawn over these kinds of sports heroes, but often the wife and children are at home alone, living lives of pain, anguish, and heartache from the neglect of these dishonorable men being worshiped by the world.
It really broke my heart thinking about it all.
Men, there is simply nothing more important than being an honorable, present father. Men who choose to be upright. Men who see the importance of the mundane, ordinary, daily things that matter to a child. Rearing children is full of mundane, monotonous things as compared to being champion of the world. There are no accolades, no cheering crowds, nobody waiting for your autograph, or waiting to take a picture with you.
But, what is most important at the end of the day—Was I an honorable, present father in the lives of my children? Was I a man who lived an upright life, who was there day in and day out for my kids? This is truly a heroic life. This enshrines you in the heart of your child.
This is the unglamorous but glorious, significant work of being a father that truly honors God.
Helping you become a Strong Disciple,
Because of Jesus,
Pastor Mark Darling
