When I was a young boy I remember well the movie Superman. He could do everything! He was strong, he could fly, and almost no one or nothing could hurt him. I used to think, “If only I had all that power I could be a Superman.” Well as I got a little older my ideas of a “Superman” changed.

We have all had people that we have looked up to or wished we could be just like. My eight year-old son is this way now. He looks up to me and wants to do everything I do. As a dad it is my responsibility to set the example for him to follow and not lead him down the wrong path. Being a father is one of the most rewarding and most challenging roles I’ve ever had to fulfill. It is a huge responsibility to love, nurture, teach, and provide for a child. It is not a part-time job or something that can be taken lightly. It is an honor as well as a mission. You have to embrace patience and display wisdom in raising children.

I’ll confess that if I tried to raise my two children without the help of my Heavenly Father there is no telling where we would be. My desire is to be a father that is pleasing to God. You see some dads want to become friends and neglect the parenting side in order to win the favor of their children. Conversely there are dads who are all discipline and never show their child love and attention. Some dads just don’t practice what they preach and they are sending their children mixed messages. Their attitude is “Do as I say, not as I do.” Some dads are only concerned with their own desires and neglect the needs of their children. There is no room for selfishness when it comes to being a parent. Some fathers leave it to the mothers and only gain the title as dad but never earn the title and serve as a father.

It is my desire to be a Godly father and follow my Heavenly Father’s example. God loves me, guides me, teaches me, provides for me, communicates with me, protects me, disciplines me, and never, ever abandons me! If God does all that for me, His child, then I should do that for my children. My Heavenly Father has set the perfect example for all dads to follow.

Lets set that example before our children in order to see our great-grandchildren serving the Lord also. Within the grand scheme of life, there are only a few things that really matter. First is your relationship with Jesus Christ. Second is that you find that true love and feel that contentment that true love brings. For me, the third thing is that when my body of clay is lowered into the earth, my children will be able to say, “My dad was a Godly dad.” I can’t wait until the last year of my life to start being that Godly dad. It is a lifelong commitment and one day it will be worth it all. Set the example for your children today.

Tune in to WBCU 103.5 FM Sundays at noon for the Shining Light Broadcast. I preach a 15-minute message that I pray will be a blessing to those who listen. If you have a prayer concern, comment, or question, please write to: Voice of Victory, Attn: David Burrell, PO Box 1221, Pacolet, SC 29372, message me on Facebook, or e-mail me at daveburrell@live.com.