Fathers, Lead Your Family - A Message To Fathers On Mothers Day

Since today is Mothers Day, I thought I would begin with some statistics from Moms on their most difficult moments. These results were taken from a nation wide survey of moms with children under six.

The “Worst place to have to change a diaper”

47% said a public restroom with no changing table

27% said the worst place to change a diaper is when no restroom or car is available

18% said that airplane bathrooms are the worst place to change a diaper

“Most embarrassed in public”

14% said diaper leaks

52% said unrelenting crying or tantrums.

12% said they are most embarrassed in public when their child asked an embarrassing question about a stranger.

“Was the first day of school harder on your child or on you?”

41% percent said it was harder on them than on the child,

26% it was equally hard on both mother and child.

“What would you do with an extra hour in your day?”

23% said they would catch up on their reading

22% said they would get some extra sleep

But, sorry dads, just 7% said they'd opt for a little romance!

SOURCE: CINCINNATI, Aug. 23, 2011 /PRNewswire A Survey for The Kroger Co.

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/national-survey-of-mothers-with-kids-under-six-finds-128242408.html

All of us wish our moms a happy Mothers Day.

What can we do for mom’s today?

If the greatest gift a dad can give his children is to love their mother.

The greatest gift a man can give his wife is to lead his family. We will examine Proverbs 4 as a pattern for fathers to lead their families.

To bless our MOM’S today, we are going to talk to Dads about leading their families. Christian moms love their children and know that the best thing for their children is a godly father taking the spiritual responsibility for his home. Dads, our challenge is for you today. But it is a challenge for all parents - mommies and daddies who are raising their children together, as well as single moms and dads trying to raise their children without a spouse.

The blessing for our homes come from the Lord. It is brought in to our homes when we live according to God’s principles.

“The righteous man leads a blameless life; blessed are his children after him.” (Proverbs 20:7)

“Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” (Proverbs 22:6)

“Discipline your son, and he will give you peace; he will bring delight to your soul.” (Proverbs 29:17)

Advice to Fathers from Proverbs 4

1. Fathers, Your Authority Comes from God. 4:1-2

Solomon begins his instruction to his sons with the full expectation that they will listen. “Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction” (4:1) Dad’s, we must EXPECT and DEMAND that our children listen to us. This is contrary to society today which emphasizes that parents earn the respect of their children. While it is true that a parent can do things that hurt their children and thus destroy the respect that should be given, from the outset parents must teach their children to be respectful of authority, beginning with their own authority.

A church member recently shared with me the slogan from a coffee mug in her place of work. It read,“Respect NO ONE - Question EVERYTHING.” That summarizes our culture today, and it is terribly wrong.

We must be counter-cultural.

Some say, “but pastor, it is impossible in today’s culture to make kids speak respectfully. Things are different. You can’t expect kids to respect everyone. I say that you are wrong.

Have you ever been to Chick Fillet? It’s an amazing restaurant! The chain has built itself on the reputation of excellent food and old-fashioned polite service. Like all fast-food restaurants, the help consists mostly of young people under twenty. Yet you will find that every one of them are extraordinarily polite, saying “yes maam, thank you sir,” and the phrase that employees are trained to say, “It’s my pleasure.”

How is Chick-Fillet able to get young people to respond with such courtesy? Aren’t these the same teens addicted to X-box, and tethered to their I phones? The answer is in two key elements. First, Chick Fillet provides a powerful incentive. You WILL act this way or someone else will take your job. The second is even more important. They have created a CULTURE or respect. Everyone in the organization models this kind of courtesy. It is constantly spoken of. They take great pride in treating their customers well.

Fathers, you can learn something Chick-Fillet. Your children are far more capable than you give them credit. They can be polite and respectful. You must do two things. Set the standard and expect them to meet it. Second, you must create a culture of respect in your home starting with the way you treat their mother, and including the way you treat your children, and even the people you do business with.