A FATHER'S ARMS AND A GRANDPA'S LAP

What brings you comfort and security in this life? Where do you go to find peace, safety and a place to rest?

A few weeks before we left Ohio, we had our kids and grandkids over to celebrate our daughter-in-law, My Linda's birthday. She requested Indian Curry/Massalla, one of our specialties we learned to make while living in Africa. The meal was great and afterwards there was game playing and resting and visiting.

I sat down in my reclining chair, popped out the foot rest and in a few minutes our little dog Chewy was in my lap stretched out to sleep (one of her favorite places). Our grand daughter, 1-3/4 year old Allison fell asleep in her father (Kirk's) arms, so he passed her to me to hold for a while). She snuggled down and was quite content to go on sleeping in my lap.

It's amazing to me the trust our children put in us! We as fathers have an awesome responsibility. We need to cultivate love and trust while at the same time imparting values, knowledge and the understanding of what discipline means.

When we begin to understand our responsibility and begin to understand that "yes, we really need to handle all of it". It puts our whole life in a different perspective. We understand that we must move from being the student (child ourselves) to being the teacher the father and leader in spiritual things as well as all the important things in life.

I've met some fathers who think the answer to everything is discipline. I agree that discipline is near the top of the list in importance, but it must be tempered with love. Paul writing about our growth as Christians, says this: "speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ." (Ephesians 4:15, NIV)

It's hard for us sometimes, as fathers, to know just how to temper our lessons and sometimes discipline in the right way. Paul a little further on, in Ephesians 6:4 writes, "And now a word to you fathers. Don’t make your children angry by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction approved by the Lord."(NLT)

I also kind of like the way another modern translation puts it. Notice the subtle difference: "Fathers, don't exasperate your children by coming down hard on them. Rather, take them by the hand and lead them in the way of the master." (MSG/edited RL).

Now, back to the original thoughts. As a father as our children were growing up I taught and disciplined them, but I don't think they ever doubted that I loved them more than anything (except maybe when they were teenagers). Today, as grown men we have a wonderful relationship, one of love and trust. Today our grandchildren are raised in the same way, yet they love to come to grandma and grandpas and stay. They have no problem snuggling down and feeling safe and loved in the arms of their parents or grandparents.

I'm in no way trying to say that I was the perfect father, far from it as I review my time raising children, but love was always at the top of the list and as it is said, it covers a multitude of sins (mistakes).

So, fathers, Love your children, discipline them when necessary, bring them up in the instruction approved by the lord and most of all take them by the hand and lead them in the way of the master!

Russ Lawson

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