The moment a man becomes a father is a really strange moment. There are so many emotions, so many thoughts, so many plans. Instantly, our brains become crowded with all sorts of stuff all relating to the future of our child. First and foremost is the thought, “how am I going to afford this kid?” This explains the dazed look of fathers in the hospital maternity wings – sticker shock. Over the next several hours, he will wander around in sticker shock mode as he begins to think of paying for all the things his baby will need – diapers, clothes, a car, college, wedding…
After the sticker shock wears off a little bit, the father begins to accept his new role…and boldly musters up the courage to change a diaper. It is at this very moment that the father begins to long for their child to speak. He isn’t waiting to hear the sweet sound of how his baby calls him “dada.” Standing there with that dirty diaper in his hands he longs to hear one particularly well spoken phrase: I can do it myself.
For the dad, “I can do it myself” is a sign of success. “I can do it myself” is a signal that he is not a failure as a dad. His child has matured to the ability of being able to put on a shirt or button his/her pants or pour a glass of milk. The dad will greet this announcement with a high five or a fist pound. And then he will leave the room, his triumphant fist raised into the air, believing that his child has accomplished independence. In his mind, dad will believe that he will never again have to force a kids head through an impossibly small shirt neck or button a pair of kids pants or pour a glass of milk – after all, his child has declared, “I can do it myself.”
A couple of minutes later, when this same father is down on his knees cleaning up a glass of spilled milk, he will tell his child, “It’s ok…don’t cry…daddy’s not mad…” Kneeling there with that milky towel in his hand, he begins to realize that claiming independence and being able to be independent are two different things. He is reminded that the road to maturity is long and that his child will need him long after they are able to do things on their own. And then, all too often, that man will walk away from that Godly reminder of how much we need to rely on our Father and he will try to live independently.
“I can do it myself.” Childish words become a man’s mantra.
Check this out from Proverbs:
A wise man has great power,
and a man of knowledge increases strength;
for waging war you need guidance,
and for victory many advisers.
(Proverbs 24:5-6 NIV)
You are in a spiritual battle today. Satan wants you to believe that you can do it on your own. You need guidance for today – read the Bible. You need many advisers – others who have your best interest at heart and who will hold you accountable.
Life as I know it is lived best when we learn to listen to God and Godly people around us instead of throwing a temper tantrum and screaming, “I can do it myself!”
After the sticker shock wears off a little bit, the father begins to accept his new role…and boldly musters up the courage to change a diaper. It is at this very moment that the father begins to long for their child to speak. He isn’t waiting to hear the sweet sound of how his baby calls him “dada.” Standing there with that dirty diaper in his hands he longs to hear one particularly well spoken phrase: I can do it myself.
For the dad, “I can do it myself” is a sign of success. “I can do it myself” is a signal that he is not a failure as a dad. His child has matured to the ability of being able to put on a shirt or button his/her pants or pour a glass of milk. The dad will greet this announcement with a high five or a fist pound. And then he will leave the room, his triumphant fist raised into the air, believing that his child has accomplished independence. In his mind, dad will believe that he will never again have to force a kids head through an impossibly small shirt neck or button a pair of kids pants or pour a glass of milk – after all, his child has declared, “I can do it myself.”
A couple of minutes later, when this same father is down on his knees cleaning up a glass of spilled milk, he will tell his child, “It’s ok…don’t cry…daddy’s not mad…” Kneeling there with that milky towel in his hand, he begins to realize that claiming independence and being able to be independent are two different things. He is reminded that the road to maturity is long and that his child will need him long after they are able to do things on their own. And then, all too often, that man will walk away from that Godly reminder of how much we need to rely on our Father and he will try to live independently.
“I can do it myself.” Childish words become a man’s mantra.
Check this out from Proverbs:
A wise man has great power,
and a man of knowledge increases strength;
for waging war you need guidance,
and for victory many advisers.
(Proverbs 24:5-6 NIV)
You are in a spiritual battle today. Satan wants you to believe that you can do it on your own. You need guidance for today – read the Bible. You need many advisers – others who have your best interest at heart and who will hold you accountable.
Life as I know it is lived best when we learn to listen to God and Godly people around us instead of throwing a temper tantrum and screaming, “I can do it myself!”
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