A Father’s Security
By Jason K. Gantt, MA, LMFT
“21 “When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are safe.” Luke 11:21
One of the books I have been reading is focused on challenging men to step up in their roles. It was based on a great movie with the same focus. The challenge was for dads to be more than “good enough” dads.
One area I enjoyed reading was about us being shepherds and protectors of our family. Often when one hears about protecting their family the first thought is of physical protection. It would be very likely for one to either have some form of home security device/system (doorbell camera, home alarm, etc.) or a neighbor with one. However, I would suggest focusing on the following key areas with your children.
What they watch – This includes your example, movies/tv shows, and computer/game console. Our world has truly become a visually stimulated one and so much time can be spent by our children watching screens. Our examples as men also influence our children’s interests.
What they hear – Music has such power to influence our mood and often youth will resonate with a specific song or artist. Another aspect of this would be the words our children hear spoken into them. This includes the words of one’s parents and peers.
Who they are around – Friends have great influence in a child’s self-esteem, behaviors, and interests.
Parenting is one of the hardest things, in addition to marriage, in which one will engage. There is no perfect recipe and no one goes without mistakes. However, as is the case with many things in life, intentionality with our jobs result in paying significant dividends.
Jason is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, as well as an ordained minister, who served as a Christian Counselor in Indiana for nearly 4 years and is currently counseling in Indianapolis area. He has a passion for families and has counseled individuals and families in various settings for over 10 years. He is blessed to be called husband and father in his family and enjoys fire pits, playing tennis and watching various sports, as well as being involved in his local church. His life verse is: “The Lord is my refuge, a stronghold in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in Him.” Nahum 1:7
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