One of the greatest joys of a father is serving his family. The more we aim to treat our family like our Father treats us, the better impact we’ll have on them becoming followers of Jesus.\u00a0As fathers, let’s set the tone early and prepare to enter this Sunday with a grateful heart\u2014even if we\u00a0add another necktie to our\u00a0already-full collection.<\/p>\n
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With these six tips, make this year’s Father\u2019s Day memorable.<\/p>\n
Let’s set ourselves\u00a0up to be grateful and leave alone any expectations we might have about gifts or special treatment. We should each pray about how to exemplify a servant’s heart and make the day centered less around us.<\/p>\n
Say thank you as much as possible and to everyone, including store clerks, strangers, and friends. Let’s be\u00a0especially purposeful in thanking our families. Consider taking time to thank God together and voice the reasons\u00a0why we\u2019re thankful because, “For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of” (Luke 6:45).<\/p>\n
Take up the chores on Sunday. If \u00a0your\u00a0wife normally cooks, makes the bed or cleans the car, do it for her as a surprise. Maybe your kids are at the age where they\u2019re learning to clean their own room every morning. You may not care to clean your kids\u2019 room for them, but you can grant them one messy day. Completing a chore for your spouse or your kids is a great way to show appreciation for what they do. As Proverbs 11:25 says, those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.<\/p>\n
For many of us, our children\u00a0are blessed beyond our childhood experiences. How do we deflect a\u00a0sense of entitlement? One way is to continually ask then how they are thankful. If we\u00a0want our children\u00a0to become generous Christian leaders, they need to learn thankfulness. Father\u2019s Day is a great day to accent this habit.<\/p>\n
Consider writing to your children. Our kids want to know that they have\u00a0what it takes to reach their goals, to be brave and to persevere. Letters tucked under pillows or in homework folders creates an opportunity to encourage them and point them toward Christ.<\/p>\n
Let’s commit to keeping the phone out of reach. Let’s consciously choose to focus in the present. Let’s steward our ability time wisely and demonstrate how to listen, react, converse, be present.<\/p>\n
We will be amazed by how much better Father\u2019s Day feels when it\u2019s focused on others. We will be more blessed to give than to receive\u2014and your Father\u2019s Day will be more memorable and meaningful because of it.<\/p>\n
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