The Most Important Relationship

I’m a husband and father to four incredible children.  I try my hardest to cherish my time with them because I know, without a doubt, that there will never be a more important relationship in any of my children’s lives than their relationship with me. I don’t say this out of pride or out of arrogance.  I say this because it is the truth. 

Think about it… where does a young girl learn about love? Where does a young girl learn how to be treated? Where does a young girl develop her idea of what her future will hold? Where does a young girl learn self-respect and self-esteem? From her father. Her father must demonstrate love; love of his spouse, love of his children, love of God.  The same goes for our boys.  They learn what it means to be a man from watching men.  What happens if a father doesn’t fulfill his role or if he fails to fulfill it in the correct way? Simple, the child’s understanding of how a man should act and treat others is skewed. This skewed understanding can lead to multiple problems, namely disordered relationships.

At the foundation of all of a young girl’s future relationships (friendship/romantic/work/personal/professional) is the love that is shown to them by their father. A huge part in showing them this love is by loving my wife in the way that proves to all of them that my wife is a jewel, a treasure, and a perfect creation. It is my goal, in my relationship with my children, to have them set their bar high, to never settle, to never feel inferior or to never doubt their abilities.

Fathers, love your wives. Set the example for your children of how they should expect a man to treat them. Teach them to set the bar high and to never settle for less than the best. If they see you being disrespectful, unloving and/or hurtful towards their mother, they are going to grow up thinking that similar behavior is normal and okay. It’s not. They will learn not only what love is, but more importantly, how to love and how to receive love from your example. It is a big responsibility, but that’s what you signed up for.

TrueMan up!