Fighting for the Hearts of Your Kids

When my daughters were growing up, we had some tough moments in which I needed to step in … not at them, not toward them, but for them.  In fifth grade, my oldest was being accused of something she didn’t do. She was called into the vice principal’s office, and I was “notified.”  We lived very close by so I dropped in and got to confront the authority confronting her.  My second daughter was being pursued at middle school by a boy - and not in a good way - so confronting the boy with his mother at a school function seemed like the right place right time. I was kind, but direct. My youngest daughter had a coach on her travel soccer team that was not only missing her heart, but was shaming her with harsh and diminishing “motivational” tactics.  We had a meeting.  He thought it was going to be an evaluation of her play; I needed to make sure he knew it was an evaluation of his.

These are a few of my “wins”… unfortunately there are quite a few losses, moments I didn’t engage in or didn’t get a chance to step in. Most of those times I got no shot at all was because the enemy used shame to have my children hide rather than share what had happened.  They believed, like I so often did when I was young, the lie that “something is wrong with me and Dad wouldn’t help, or understand or would be mad;” so the whisper of “don’t tell” prevented them like it did me the opportunity to swoop in and save the day.

Jesus said, “Let the little children come.” (Matthew 19:4).  He also said,  “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them if a large millstone were hung around their neck and they were thrown into the sea.”  (Mark 9:44).  What none of us wants is to be used by the enemy to hinder our child’s faith, much less be the cause of their turning from faith through our wounding or missing their hearts, missing opportunities to fight for them.  The objective is certainly to wound them less, and the goal to love them more. 

I remember when my first child was born, a daughter.  It was 1993 and the “birthing experience” was like one of those all inclusive vacation packages, except you went home with a baby rather than a new hat and t-shirt.  We checked in, were wheeled to our luxury “suite” and everything happened right there in that room.  Meals, fluffed pillows, warmed blankets, and they treated my wife pretty well, too.  It was an amazing process that concluded with the meeting of my little girl for the very first time.  Those next several hours in our suite were wonderful.  The wait staff (nurses and doctors) checking on us, even bringing our little girl in and out, while “we” rested in-between visits.  Then they did the craziest thing, they asked us to leave, the  “vacation” was cut short; something about two nights was enough and our new family needed to go home and allow them to get ready for the next little bundle of joy.  “REALLY? ... she just got here and … she’s a little human being! … we’ve never done this before … hey, can one of the nurses come home with us for a few more days, weeks, YEARS?!?”  And so it began.

Now, just to make sure you don’t think my wife and I were being totally irresponsible, we had read some books and attended a few classes, so clearly we were prepared.  You don’t know what you don’t know, am I right? I mean, What to Expect When Your Expecting only goes so far, the vast majority of this adventure is frontier and in a very honest and quiet moment, as a new dad,  I’m thinking, “I don’t know how to do this. How am I going to keep this little creature alive and provide and protect her for the years to come?”  From vacation to the front lines I wasn’t prepared, none of us are.

Because every heart arrives on the planet, boys and girls alike wanting love, we have an opportunity as dads to love.  Just like you, your kids are hardwired with the same fundamental core questions and longing you and I  grew up with …

Do you see me?

Do you love what you see?

Children, especially when they are young, and no matter how old they become, will look to their fathers to answer these questions thousands of times.  With words and actions, with your presence and questions, by listening and sharing, our answers can be Yes and Yes, I see you and I love what I see.   

As we approach Father’s Day, we are inviting dads across the globe to go after your children’s hearts.  Learn to fight against the enemy for your kid.  God gave them to us to provide and protect and to teach you how to love. You Got This, Dad! You and Jesus Got This!!!