They Call Me Dad

My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.

2 CORINTHIANS 12:9

For several summers, I had the opportunity to lead groups of dads and their teenagers on a wilderness expedition sponsored by an outdoor adventure organization. It was a five-day getaway from civilization—no cell phones allowed—so dads and kids could renew their relationships while facing challenges together. Not only did they have a great experience together, most came away with a new perspective on their relationship and what’s most important in life.

Each day’s schedule included a fun and challenging activity, such as hiking, rappelling, or swimming, and a one-to-one dad-child dialogue designed to help dads practice the fine arts of listening and encouraging their kids. On day four, the dialogue focused on the child’s goals and dreams. The dads helped their adolescent children set goals for the coming year and then made a commitment to help them reach their goals. Then each dad read a letter of blessing that he wrote to his child the previous day. In addition the dads gave their children similar letters from their moms, a friend, sibling, teacher, youth pastor, or other significant persons. That same evening the dads gathered for a special campfire to prepare for the next day’s hike to a mountain summit where they would pronounce a specific blessing over their daughters.

One summer on a trip involving dads and daughters, I was struck once again by the profound effect of a father opening up his heart to his child. On the fourth night, as the dads were heading toward the sleeping bags, they were eager but also apprehensive. Clearly, this adventure was stretching them in ways they hadn’t been stretched before.

Not one of these men had ever received a blessing from his own father. Most of them came from homes where the father had been present but not connected in a spiritual or emotional way. Nevertheless, each agreed that although verbally blessing his daughter in front of the entire group would be a challenge, it was the right thing to do. Clearly, many of those dads needed to speak the blessing as much as their daughters needed to hear it. Some of them would take a huge step by breaking the curse of silence in their families; others would take a good relationship with their daughter to a much deeper level.

It rained during the night, and morning brought a chilly wind—not uncommon in the Sierras, even in August. It would take about four hours of steep climbing to reach the summit. En route many of the girls complained: I’m tired. Let’s go back. How much farther? As the hours passed, the tension increased. A few of the dads even suggested that we turn back.

But when we finally reached the top, something extraordinary occurred. The blustery wind suddenly died down, the clouds parted, and rays of sunshine burst through, almost like a spotlight. It was as if we were on holy ground. For the next hour, the air stayed calm and warm.

Then one by one each father introduced his daughter, shared something special about her, and pronounced a blessing on her in front of the rest of us. Next, all the fathers gathered around the dad and daughter and prayed that God would bring the blessing to pass. As each father shared—talking about his pride in his daughter, her unique gifts, and his love for her—he broke down and wept at some point, no exceptions. The daughters, who had been weary and grumbling, all became attentive and bright-eyed. After hearing her father speak blessings to her, each one was relaxed, talking, and laughing. I still hear from dads and daughters who talk about that day and the difference it made.

That experience—which happened on August 6, the same day the Eastern Church celebrates the Festival of Transfiguration—reminds me of one of the two times in Scripture when God spoke a blessing over His Son. Jesus, in preparation for His final days, had gathered three of His disciples to join Him for prayer on top of a mountain. There He was transfigured and joined by two heavenly visitors, Moses and Elijah. Then a cloud, signifying God’s presence, covered the mountain, and God declared, This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him! (Matthew 17:5 NIV). Through this blessing, God affirmed His love for His Son and that He had chosen His Son to carry out His purpose.

Fatherhood must be at the core of the universe.¹

C. S. LEWIS

That day on the mountain, those fathers did something similar for their daughters. Though their own fathers hadn’t modeled this for them, these dads were willing to be vulnerable and bless their daughters. The transfigured impact was glowing young women with sparkling eyes.

Above all, each of these fathers made a commitment to forge a better relationship with his daughter and to become what I call a dad of destiny. Dads of destiny are committed to being engaged fathers who bring life and renewal to their households so that their children—and future generations of children—thrive.

Dads of destiny father intentionally. They recognize being a dad is a gift from God that requires focus and faith. Dads of destiny are deliberate in setting goals and have plans to help their children succeed, but they also know it’s not just about their desires. Rather, it’s about being a servant to their children, ultimately submitting their hearts, minds, and wills to another Father. And by faith, over time, this heavenly Father will guide His earthly representatives to become dads of destiny in their homes, their communities, their country, and the world.

If we want to become dads of destiny, it will require three qualities or attitudes I observed in those dads on the mountain: vulnerability, passion, and an Abba connection.

COURAGEOUS VULNERABILITY

None of us are perfect. I fail in many ways as a dad, and I’ve tried to be honest and open about that with my family. But since few of us saw that openness in our dads—and being vulnerable and broken runs counter to our own egos and the image of success we try to uphold—the effort to be open and honest can be a challenge. But as fathers committed to connecting and building relationships with our children, we need to take this step if we want to unleash God’s power in our families.

Through the apostle Paul, God tells us not to be concerned about weakness because, My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Paul was so convinced of this that he proclaimed, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me . . . . For when I am weak, then I am strong (2 Corinthians 12:9–10).

Strong, effective fathers admit when they are wrong. They are not afraid to say to their families, I was wrong. I’m sorry. Will you forgive me?

Ironically, confessing our inadequacies makes us more able to pass on an authentic legacy of faith to our children. Fortunate are the children whose dads recognize their own weaknesses and limitations and then lay them at the foot of the cross. You’ll gain much credibility with your kids if you can tell them something about your own struggles and even ask them to pray for you. By demonstrating vulnerability and teachability, you will show them it’s OK to make mistakes and that spiritual maturity is a lifelong pursuit. One of the most courageous things a dad can do is set aside his ego, admit his mistakes, and ask for forgiveness.

RELENTLESS PASSION FOR GOD

If you are going to become a dad of destiny, if you are going to be a hero to your kids, you will need to cultivate an inner drive, a God-given passion, to live a holy life before your children, and to prepare them for the challenges of life.

Many dads wilt in the face of the huge challenges. We freeze up or run away, when instead, we should act courageously through trust in the living God. Or, perhaps worse, we let our jobs or other pursuits distract us from what is most important. We may get lulled into complacency and overlook the challenges and changes that are coming in our children’s lives—even though we say we want to make our kids a priority. But a dad of destiny wants to be certain that his child has a solid reference point for how a godly man lives, for oh so soon his daughter will be wooed by young men and his sons will be relating to young women and facing a variety of temptations.

First Samuel 17, which tells the story of David and Goliath, puts our challenge into perspective. David was the only one in all of Israel who was willing to fight the giant. Why? Because he was a man of great passion for the Lord. When he got to the camp, he immediately saw that something wasn’t right. Who is this  . . ., he asked, that he should defy the armies of the living God? (v. 26). Then, when facing Goliath, he risked everything on God. He said, Today the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel  . . . for the battle is the LORD’S, and he will give all of you into our hands (vv. 46–49 NIV).

Do you have a giant that needs to be slain? A difficult relationship with a teen, a personal struggle or addiction, or an uncontrollable temper? Sometimes it’s scary just relating to our kids and opening our hearts to them. Have you been standing on the sidelines? Have you forgotten that you have God’s power on your side?

In God’s hands, a shepherd boy has a sling with perfect aim, and a scrawny kid can kill a giant and become a great king. And with God’s power we dads can bring healing to relationships that seem hopeless. We can even change destructive habits that have been in place for