The Good Dad, Book IV

In all of my Bible  classes, we discuss my belief that God chose Joseph as carefully as Mary to be the earthly father of Jesus. Some kids think that Jesus would have been  Jesus no matter what but the angel told her that she was highly favored and not some random Jewish teenage girl. This week, we began looking at the Parable of the Prodigal Son where the father is clearly protrayed as God. As part of the assignment, the students wrote an in-class paper describing what they believe makes a good father. Here are some of their thoughts, boys in blue and girls in purple. We will do this for several days and all are used by permission. 

A good father would be someone who is supportive but isn’t too nosy about everything. Don't get me wrong- it is good to be protective. He would be someone who cared and went to sporting events to cheer you on. Sometimes a dad needs to be understanding and should give reasonable freedoms and rewards rather than more restrictions on childhood. He should get out more and play what the kids want to play outside and inside. He would be the one person to go to for help.

-J

A good father is one who cares endlessly about his kids. He should love, and support, and help his kids whenever and wherever. When I was younger I never got to experience a true father-daughter relationship. My dad was strict and harsh and sometimes very mean. He never demonstrated displays of love or affection to me which is what I needed from him. A good dad would care too much for his kids, demonstrate and proclaim his love for his wife and kids, be a man of God, and support his family financially, spiritually, and emotionally. He would go to his kids’ games, take care of them when they are sick, help his wife when she’s busy, and take his family to church. All those qualities and more are those of a good father.

-N

I think you need to be able to listen to your kids to be a good father. Dads can’t become upset with the slightest remark and they need to be able to fix multiple problems. Most of all, he needs to have a backbone. He should be able to understand and handle whatever problems that he needs to deal with.

-M

A good father is very supportive of most of the things that you do. Good fathers are strict, but not too strict; strict enough to make you sure you do the right thing, but not too strict to where you can’t go hang out with your friends. Honesty is also very important key. A good father helps you with your problems and doesn’t judge you no matter the circumstances. A good father is caring and loving. Trustworthy is a good thing. A good dad is understandable and does not jump to conclusions. A good father listens to you and asks you how your day went, not because they feel like they have to, but because they honestly care.

-T

A good father would take care of his family and not leave them. If he were a good father, he would be there for the family and provide for them. If the father had kids who played sports, he would always be there to support them. A good dad wouldn't argue with mom; they would settle things. A good dad would tell the kids the right thing to do in times of need. One thing about a good dad is that he would take time to have fun with the kids and their mom.

-T

I think a good father would have to truly care about his children. A father should try hard to provide a home, food, and clothes for them. The most important thing to be a father is love them and show how much they care for them, when your child is having trouble in school, or just having personal problems. They should try to talk to them and see what’s really going on in their life. The way that they act is most likely how their child will act. If you are a good father, your child is going to want to act like you when your child becomes a father. No matter how much you get in trouble and how mad your dad is, He will still love you and care for you. He wouldn't ever just leave you because a father never gives up on his child. You and your child can have the best relationship ever.

-C

A good father is a manly figure. It's the man that the child looks up to. A good father always has their child’s best interest in mind. He is not afraid to let them fail but must be able to pick them up when they do. A good father is not afraid to discipline his children, A good father teaches his son how to be a man. He shows them the way of life. A good father does not spoil his child too much. A good father knows when to speak and when not to speak. A good father is always there. And when he is there he is fully there. A good father supports his child as much as he can. A good father supports his family financially.

-W

I think a good father is someone who loves his children and supports what the children like to do like in sports or a hobby. I think a good father tries to provide for his family. When I am a father I would like to provide for my family and do the things they like. A good father also protects their family from danger. My dad is a good dad to me. I would like to grow up and be as good as him.

-M

Applicable quote of the day: If a dad does his job, we don't need prisons, we don't need jails. That's what I saw growing up.

Mike Singletary

God bless, Steve Luke 18:1
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E-mail me at steve@hawleybooks.com