3 Characteristics of a Godly Father

I realize this is a blog for homemakers, and therefore there may not be a whole lot of fathers reading this.  You can share this post for the fathers in your life to read, or you can use it to pray these things for them.

As I mentioned in my Characteristics of a Godly Mother post, I was blessed with Godly parents, and have learned so much about parenting through watching their lives.

I wanted to take the time to share some of the things that my own dad did right.

1. He admitted when he was wrong. 

No one on this entire earth is perfect, and that includes my father.  When he made a mistake, he was willing to admit it.  He didn't try to pretend that nothing was wrong.  Instead he apologized when he'd lost his temper or failed to walk in the Spirit.  Instead of thinking less of him for making mistakes, we children learned valuable lessons from those instances.  We saw by example how to handle our own failures – by confessing our sin, getting up and going forward rather than trying to cover things up.

2. He was submitted to the Holy Spirit.

It was obvious to me even as a child that my dad was humbly submitted to the Holy Spirit's work in his heart. I watched him study scripture, pray, learn, grow, and change. Wherever God led him, he followed. He still does to this day. I enjoy having conversations with him about what we are both studying in scripture and what the Holy Spirit is revealing to us through it.

What better way for a father to encourage his children to walk with the Lord than to focus on his own relationship with God?

3. He was a nurturer.

When I think of what a Godly father should be, I immediately think of Ephesians 6:4, which is directed specifically to fathers:

And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

The word “nurture” brings to my mind the idea of a tender plant.  In order for that plant to grow and thrive, the caretaker must tend to it regularly — pulling weeds, watering, fertilizing.  It requires lots of time and careful attention, and neglecting it will either cause it to die or at least come close to it.

My dad paid careful attention to his children, always finding time to play with us and listen to us.  Because of that fact, his tender plants grew and thrived.  A father who berates, ignores, or makes his children feel unimportant will find that they will wilt. But a father who encourages and tends to the hearts of his children will strengthen them.

So, while my dad wasn't perfect a perfect human, these are some of the things that impacted me as a child and that I still appreciate about him today.

I am thankful that I had such a loving father who pointed me to the loving heart of God!

My dad with my little boy