The Role of the Father

I've been meeting regularly with a young pregnant couple for Resource Classes. They are going through the lessons in our class on Child Development. Today we were going to go over the lesson entitled, The Role of the Father.

Since I met this young couple, the father of the baby has been at every appointment. He has shown great interest about preparing for his new role as a father. I'm not sure that even with the best of preparations, anyone is totally and adequately quite ready for parenthood. But, I know that trying to learn about the things that will equip you for the job is very important. After all, isn't parenting the most important job of all? You are impacting a human life. Your influence can be great, good, fair, poor, bad, and even evil. Your role as a parent is critical to how a child develops in every aspect of life - physically, emotionally, mentally, socially, and spiritually. The responsibility is indeed great.

Now I, of course am not a father, so I am already at a disadvantage in teaching this lesson. Oh for some men to be involved in the ministry of Pregnancy Resource Centers across the country! But until we have some male volunteers at the Center, I have young first time fathers coming with hungry hearts to learn about fatherhood. So it is at this venue where I trust my God to help me discuss The Role of the Father in such a way the new dad leaves not only understanding his responsibility before God, but desires to put his hands to the plow and do the job!

Today's lesson was one of the best lessons I have had the privilege of teaching. This is God's grace. I sensed God's Spirit with me and drawing the young man. We had a great conversation. It was really interesting observing the young mother take all this in. She was quiet, but you could tell she was listening very closely. I believe The Role of the Father is best exemplified when one has entered into a real relationship with God, the Heavenly Father. This lesson became the segue to sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with this couple. It was one experience at the Pregnancy Resource Center I will most likely never forget. It is my prayer that this couple, this young new father and this young new mother will never forget it either. I pray that they will embrace the Words of Life they heard this day and enter into a forever relationship with my Heavenly Father!