Think a minute…A policeman made this observation: “From the disrespect, violence and destruction of property by kids today, you would think they have no fathers.” Late one night a young man was involved in a crime and his father came to the police station upset about his car being held as evidence. The shocked policeman said to the father: “You’re more worried about your car than you are about your son’s bad behavior!” But the father just shrugged his shoulders and said: “Just close my car windows in case it rains.”
Thankfully, other sons are blessed with a mature, caring father who takes the time to love and teach his son well. Like the man who testified: “The biggest influence in my life was my father. He spent a lot of time teaching me how to be an honest, good man. When I was a boy, every evening my dad spent an hour with my brother and me teaching us, including reading something from the newspaper and then explaining it. This hour with my dad every evening lasted until I became an adult. It’s all the more amazing since my father had only an eighth-grade education.”
A father can even help his son find his career—but only if the father takes the time to help his son discover and develop his natural abilities. Mickey Mantle, one of the greatest professional baseball players ever, was deeply influenced and inspired by his father. Mantle wrote: “When I was just five-years-old, my dad began to teach me all my baseball skills…Every day after work he spent hours playing with me. And when I hit the ball over the house, he and my grandfather counted it as a homerun. But my dad did more than teach me baseball—he taught me confidence. When I was just 15 years old, he let me play with him and the other mature men on the local baseball team.” Mickey Mantle’s father took the time to teach his son.
Dad, your influence will never rub off on your son if you’re not close enough for it to sink in to his heart and mind. You only get a few years to build his character and confidence, so each and every day is the time to teach. The time you waste and lose with your son is gone forever. You only get one chance to love and teach your son how to be a real man who is honest, kind, and courageous. Dad, don’t lose one more day! Today, ask Jesus to forgive you for not being the father your son needs. Only Jesus can start changing your heart and character, so you can make the most of the time you have left to show and teach your son well. Just think a minute…