Looking for FREE entertainment tonight? Through October 23rd, you can get a FREE 1-day DVD rental when you enter the promo code MCPC413S at your local Redbox kiosk. Note: this is not valid through app or at Redbox.com!
Friday, September 27, 2013
8 Non-Negotiables For Dads with Daughters
A couple months ago, my kids were playing upstairs when my two-year-old daughter Rebekah starts screaming at the top of her lungs. I ran upstairs to find that she’d cut her eyebrow from jumping off the bed onto her brother’s train table.
Since it looked bad, I called my neighbor for help so I could take Rebekah to the Urgent Care clinic. After waiting and being seen, the doctor explained that she’d need three stitches. The nurses and I held Rebekah down while the doctor threaded her skin. Her eyes filled with tears as she shouted, “D-a-d-d-y … D-a-d-d-y!”
My heart broke for her. One of the nurses holding Rebekah’s hand looked at me and said, “It’s amazing how kids know daddy is the protector. She wants him!” I nodded my head and knew what she meant.
It starts young when a little girl’s heart longs for Daddy. I was right there with Rebekah but she needed his strong hands, wisdom, encouragement and guidance in the midst of her suffering. And no one else could fill that protector role like him.
Thankfully her distress came to an end. She left the building with new stitches, stickers, a cute teddy bear, and still wondering where Daddy was. I assured her she’d see him soon.
Not only do girls need physical protection from their fathers but also emotional and spiritual safeguards throughout their life. But how does a father build a rich love and faith into his daughter’s life for the long haul? Here are 8 non-negotiables.
1. Meditate on God’s Word. Reading, studying, and meditating on God’s Word is your foundation. Putting your relationship with Christ a priority will model to your daughter that God is your ultimate authority and to whom you’re accountable.
“I meditate on your precepts, and consider your ways” (Ps. 119:15).
2. Honor your marriage vows. The greatest gift you can give your daughter is a deep love for your wife. Do whatever it takes to cultivate your marriage relationship. Your sacrificial love and commitment to your wife — even when it’s difficult — shows your daughter that your faith is real.
“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her” (Eph. 5:25).
3. Prize purity. There’s no better way to treasure purity than to model it yourself. Be accountable to other godly men. Protect your eyes and your screens. Help your daughter understand why it’s God’s plan to save sexual intimacy for marriage.
“Set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity” (1 Tim. 4:10).
4. Share God’s truth. Teach your daughter the gospel and God’s life-giving commands and truths. Your teaching doesn’t always have to be a structured devotional time, but be diligent to use teachable moments as an opportunity to share who God is.
“Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads…” (Deut. 11:18).
5. Discipline consistently. True freedom = discipline + rules. Your daughter needs to know there are real consequences to her actions and decisions. Setting strong boundaries and standards early on will save her from future heartache.
“Discipline your children while there is hope. Otherwise you will ruin their lives” (Prov. 19:18).
6. Schedule daddy-daughter dates. Take her to her favorite restaurant or to your work for a lunch date. You can start this when she’s young. Teach her what is appropriate dress before she leaves the house. Show her how a man should treat a woman.
“Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres” (1 Cor. 13:6-7).
7. Ditch the distractions. Say “no” to activities and engagements that keep you away from family time. Be careful how much time you spend on electronics and sports channels. Show your daughter that your relationship to her takes precedence.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control…” (Gal. 5:22).
8. Ask forgiveness. Your daughter knows you’re human and make mistakes, but it’s good to admit when you fail. Seek forgiveness when you’ve screwed up. Humbling yourself in such a way will show her that you’re striving to follow God as best you can.
“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective” (Jas 5:16).
No perfect dad exists, but there is a perfect God to help you. The time you spend investing in your daughter’s life today will reap dividends in the future. She needs your love and faith more than you’ll ever know.
Samantha Krieger is a writer and editor in Dallas, Texas. She’s a regular contributor to StartMarriageRight.com, Ungrind.org, Believe.com, and has contributed to marriage and motherhood books with Focus on the Family. She holds a B.A. in English and M.A. in Religion from Liberty University. Samantha and her husband Jeremiah are busy raising four children, 4 and under. She loves hearing from readers through her blog, Facebook, or Twitter.
Free App Friday!
It's Free App Friday!!
There are 20 Educational/Fun Apps for FREE (today only)!
Biscuit — Dictionary &; Flashcards
Biscuit is the ultimate language learning sidekick - Faster than a dictionary, easier to use than traditional flash cards or word lists, and always by your side.
- "Copy" any word on your mobile to (1) see its definition, (2) hear its pronunciation, and (3) have it turned into a double-sided flash card.
- Create your own beautifully designed word list in seconds!- Access your lists from any device.
- Take a picture of any text you see in real life, and the words will magically be added to your Biscuit list.
- Prioritize and deprioritize words with a simple swipe.
Reduced from $3.99 to FREE
The Flying Alphabetinis Deluxe — A Fingerprint Network App (in-app purchases for extra coins and stunts)
The Flying Alphabetinis is a word game for kids to play with the whole family. The first turn-based multi-player word puzzle game for children, The Flying Alphabetinis brings Circus fun to fast paced word creation.
Who are the Alphabetinis? Alphabetinis are tiny acrobats with letters on their bellies. Alphabetinis hop, flip and repel into a stunt formation, called a letter jumble. Then the fun begins!
Start finding words quickly. Picture flash card appear, spell those words. Players that guess, find and trace the flash card words fastest score huge points and bragging rights with family and friends!
Reduced from $2.99 to FREE
AZnimal
AZnimal is an application for iPhone and iPad that helps children learn the letters by associating the animals.
The application features more than seventy animals with quality photographs, and their verbalization of their names. Each picture can be divided and turned into a puzzle or a drawing to color. It is also possible to associate a sound or a name to each animal.
Reduced from $1.99 to FREE
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