Dad Superpowers

Did you know that I have superpowers?  All dad's have them although all too many don't use them and end up losing them.   God gives dad's awesome superpowers.  I am constantly humbled and moved by mine and I am working hard to use them well.

I have the power to create value and confidence in my children, especially my daughter.  If I cherish her, honor her, love her and affirm her, you will see a woman emerge who is confident in her value and strong in her resolve.    With my sons, I can create men who will cherish and care for women, who honor them and esteem them.  Men who will in turn raise up Godly families themselves.  With all my children I have been given the power to call who God made them into fuller being, giving them hope and helping mold them into the person they are going to be tomorrow.

In my adopted children (some even young adults now), I also have some superpowers from God.  I can help melt cold hearts that have been frozen by the world and be a part of healing those wounded by the world. To reset damaged pictures of what dads should be and give them the strength, confidence, and self-value to make wise choices and keep themselves from being victimized and dominated by others for the sake of some "love" and attention.   With all my daughters, I have the power to protect them, not by building strong walls, but by building strong daughters who don't chase a man to feel loved and lovely and who won't accept any man that treats her as less than the complete, competant, fully developed person she is.

These are awesome powers and I must be careful.  With great power comes great responsibility.  I must remember that God is the author and source of these powers and He has provided the template and guidance for me to use them.  I must seek Him every day and submit myself to His control and will if I am to have any power at all.  The minute I work in my own strength and wisdom, the power is gone and I can do great damage.  When I do submit myself in humility to Him, I will be less of a focus for my children and more of a picture of Christ that will allow them to move beyond me into a powerful personal connection with their God that will shape them, define them, and empower them for the rest of their lives.  What Power!

O God, grant me the humility, wisdom, discipline, and strength to be the man you would have me be to my family.  They are the greatest and most important congregation I will ever serve!

I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth. (3 John 1:4 NAS)