Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. But the angel said to him; "Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John. He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth. Many of the people of Israel will he bring back to the Lord their God. And He will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous---to make ready a people prepared for the Lord." Luke 1:11-17
As men of God, everything that is done in us is for the next generation. We are not called to be "perfect" fathers, but we are called to be the best that we can be for our families and for those children around us. It is about the "heart". Our heart! Which way is your heart pointing? It is important to bring children up in the instruction of the Lord, giving them the tools to do "right" in life. You are not defined by the things that you have or the position that you have. You are defined by the character of God that is present (shown, demonstrated) in your life. That is what's MOST important!
How can we become better fathers and prepare our children to live life properly?
Spend time with your children. Children spell love T I M E. Understand the significance and importance of spending quality time with them. Influence and invest in their lives.
Discipline with a gentle spirit. Gently instruct and guide your children. Correcting in love will draw them closer to the Lord. Teach them how to receive forgiveness from God. It is important for every child to experience forgiveness and to know that God has their best interests at heart.
Be a role model. How you live your lives is more important that what you are saying. Just because your children "hear" you, doesn't necessarily mean that they understand you. Being an influence, means being a role model.
Show affection. Kids need to experience love in various places and situations. Love builds up. There are many ways to show you children that you love them. Be creative! Make sure they KNOW that they are LOVED!
Realize your job is never done. It is a constant process. You will always be their dad! There are things that you can do......pray for your kids, always treat your children age appropriately, understand that you don't have to keep taking the punches---be adults!