Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.
–Colossians 3:21
A man came home from work one Friday evening. He was exhausted and couldn’t stop thinking about getting on the golf course the next day. Just then, his son, Tommy, ran up to him and said, “Dad, tomorrow’s the big day. We’re going fishing, remember?”
The father had the air taken out of him. “Alright, son,” he said, “we’ll go.” The next day, he and Tommy left early on a 60-mile drive to the lake. Once they were there, they threw their lines in the water. Hours passed without a bite. Not even a nibble. And to add insult to injury, rain started pouring, drenching them.
When they got home, the man took a shower and came downstairs. He told his wife, “What a waste. We didn’t catch a thing today and were soaked by the rain.”
“Interesting,” said the wife. “Since you got home, Tommy hasn’t stopped talking about the great day he spent with his dad.”
You never know what a blessing time together can be for your children. So find ways to spend time with your kids often, even when your life seems busy. One of the greatest gifts you’ll ever give them is yourself!
MAKE IT A PRIORITY TO SPEND TIME WITH YOUR KIDS AND BE A FORCE OF ENCOURAGEMENT IN THEIR LIVES.
