Tuesdays with Daddy – Father’s Edition

To all the men who are fathers… today’s “Tuesdays with Daddy” is for you.  Unfortunately, my opportunity to be home with my girls on Tuesdays will be coming to an end in about a month.  I thought it would be a good idea to put forth a challenge to all the dads out there, to keep you thinking, to keep you purposeful in your parenting.  Read over these questions and be honest with yourself about the answers.  If something’s not up to par, make a change today.  I believe that we are all on a journey towards being the best father that we can be.  The journey requires us to always be moving forward, always toward being better.

• Do you tell your children, not just everyday, but every chance you have, that you love them?
• Do your actions match up with your words?
• Do you love your wife?
• Does your love (action!) match up with your “I love yous”?
• Do your children see you loving your wife?
• Do your children have a healthy and realistic understanding of love, or is it what they see on television, in movies and online?
• Do you prioritize your life well?  Or do you give one (or more) part more attention and neglect the other things you ought to be doing?
• Are you addicted to anything?  Porn?  Alcohol?  ESPN?  Work? etc.
• Are you working to overcome your addiction?  (Ask me if you need resources… Dave@TrueManhood.com)
• Do you strive to grow in virtue?
• Are you faithful to a daily prayer life?  To a Sacramental life?
• Do your children know that you pray?
• Do you pray with your children everyday?
• Are you actively involved in the spiritual formation of your children daily?
• Do you pass on responsibilities and place them on your wife and/or childcare provider?
• Do you rejoice in your children?
• What else do you need to work on?

Man up!

“Our lives change when our habits change.”  - Matthew Kelly

Lenten Devotion – A Prayerful Man

Often times, society tells us that prayer is for women, young children and hermit-type religious folks.  Not true.  In order for all of us to know God, we must converse with Him.  It simply wouldn’t work to not speak to my wife for weeks-on-end and expect things to be okay between us.  The same goes for us and God.  We MUST stay in constant conversation with God.  It’s like any other relationship, it takes bothparties to be in relation with one another.  God has proved to remain faithful (He has made many covenants with us, His people), we are the ones that must change our behavior and devote time to Him in prayer.

Men, be careful to not fall into the modern idea that prayer/spirituality is a feminine characteristic.  Females have a beautiful spirituality, but that doesn’t usually work for us.  (There’s a reason why most of the Mystics of the Church are women.)  For me, my prayer life reflects my demeanor, my personality and my outlook; it’s rugged, straightforward and unwaveringly positive.  Most of my prayer reflects my need for Christ as a fallen, sinful man working at changing for the better.  It also reflects knowledge that our faith is the Truth and the fullness of it.  It’s important that your prayer life and spirituality reflect who you are, because like in any relationship, both parties need to honest, open and real.  It won’t work if you try to have someone else’s spirituality.  The great news here is that there’s at least one Saint who you can emulate, one Saint that was like you.  Find that Saint and follow them to Christ.

Man up!