Good father / Better father

These guys are growing up. Now they are 15, 11, and they have a little sister who is 5...

I talk about the importance of prayer.

I sing prayers.

I believe it is a good thing to do.

But really I do not pray enough.

The kind of father I am is not the best kind of father I could be. I'm too quick to react and not quick enough to listen and respond.

How about you?

A wise man told me recently that someone has to "Be the brick wall" when it comes to setting boundaries for a teenager. I agree but am too quick to add barbed wire at the top to keep anyone from trying to climb over!

Yeah maybe I'm taking this analogy a bit too far, but I DO notice I am able to listen better when I have taken time to pray. I could shrug off the need to change and say "I'm a good father" but I want to be better. A thought that came to my wife back when she was still pregnant with our first son: She was telling Jesus how she wanted to be a good mom when she heard him answer: "Don't pray to be a good mom; pray to be a holy mom - then you will be a good one." Something along those lines. It fits for us fathers, too. It all starts with prayer...