Taken from Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters by …storage.cloversites.com...Taken from Strong...
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Taken from Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters by Meg Meeker From crying squalls when she’s a baby, to toddler tantrums, to the stresses of teenage life, there is no shortage of challenges to a father’s love for his daughter. But real love is gritty. It sweats. It waits. It causes you to hold your tongue when you want to scream obscenities in anger. And love causes many men to accomplish extraordinary feats. Things are always changing in your daughter’s life. She may love chocolate in the morning and hate it by lunch time. Her best friend in homeroom may be an arch enemy before the day is out. By the bus ride in the next morning, however, they’re BFFs again. She’ll adore you one minute and want nothing to do with you the next. You need to love her not only when she is your sweet, affectionate girl, but also when she’s a real pain in the neck to be around. In fact, in the face of all her dizzying changes, you, Dad, are called to be her rock of stability. How? Always come back. You may need to distance yourself emotionally for a time. You may even need a physical separation for a bit. But always come back. Will, patience, calm, and persistence will pay off in your relationship with her. Nothing better expresses serious love than this combination of qualities. Let her know that nothing she can do – even running away, getting pregnant, tattooing her ankle, or piercing her tongue – can make you stop loving her. Tell her that, regularly. Be ready to listen. Your daughter responds differently to stress than you do. When you’re stressed, you may turn on a game, exercise, or go fishing. Not her. She wants to spill her tensions on you. It makes her feel better. So be ready to listen…even if it’s during the big game. Few things deflate a girl faster than being rejected by her father—whether it’s because you’re too busy for her or you treat what she wants to share as silly or irrelevant. So be a safe, welcoming place for your daughter, even if it’s inconvenient at the time. Most parents pull away from their teenage daughters, assuming they need more space and freedom. In reality, your teenage daughter needs you more now than ever. So stick with her. If you don’t, she’ll wonder why you left her. Game Show Night, Father/Daughter Edition! Sunday, November 20th. A fun evening of food and prizes for dads and their daughters. Registration begins next Sunday. Need marriage help? Contact Marriage & Family Pastor, Bill Reinke, at [email protected].
Transcript of Taken from Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters by …storage.cloversites.com...Taken from Strong...
Taken from Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters by Meg Meeker
From crying squalls when she’s a baby, to toddler tantrums, to the stresses of teenage life, there is no shortage of challenges to a father’s love for his daughter. But real love is gritty. It sweats. It waits. It causes you to hold your tongue when you want to scream obscenities in anger. And love causes many men to accomplish extraordinary feats.
Things are always changing in your daughter’s life. She may love chocolate in the morning and hate it by lunch time. Her best friend in homeroom may be an arch enemy before the day is out. By the bus ride in the next morning, however, they’re BFFs again. She’ll adore you one minute and want nothing to do with you the next. You need to love her not only when she is your sweet, affectionate girl, but also when she’s a real pain in the neck to be around. In fact, in the face of all her dizzying changes, you, Dad, are called to be her rock of stability. How?
Always come back. You may need to distance yourself emotionally for a time. You may even need a physical separation for a bit. But always come back. Will, patience, calm, and persistence will pay off in your relationship with her. Nothing better expresses serious love than this combination of qualities.
Let her know that nothing she can do – even running away, getting pregnant, tattooing her ankle, or piercing her tongue – can make you stop loving her. Tell her that, regularly.
Be ready to listen. Your daughter responds differently to stress than you do. When you’re stressed, you may turn on a game, exercise, or go fishing. Not her. She wants to spill her tensions on you. It makes her feel better. So be ready to listen…even if it’s during the big game. Few things deflate a girl faster than being rejected by her father—whether it’s because you’re too busy for her or you treat what she wants to share as silly or irrelevant. So be a safe, welcoming place for your daughter, even if it’s inconvenient at the time.
Most parents pull away from their teenage daughters, assuming they need more space and freedom. In reality, your teenage daughter needs you more now than ever. So stick with her. If you don’t, she’ll wonder why you left her.
Game Show Night, Father/Daughter Edition! Sunday, November 20th.
A fun evening of food and prizes for dads and their daughters. Registration begins next Sunday.
Need marriage help? Contact Marriage & Family Pastor, Bill Reinke, at [email protected].
Acts 10 (34) Then Peter began to speak: “I now
realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism (35) but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right.” [James 2:1] My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don’t show favoritism. (NIV)
Romans 14 (1) Accept him whose faith is
weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters. [Ephesians 4:3] Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. (NIV)
Galatians 6 (1) Brothers, if someone is
caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently…. (2) Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. [James 5:16] Therefore, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. (NIV)
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