Recently, I had the pleasure of spending the day with two of my favorite people in the world: a beautiful six-year-old and her adorable four-year-old brother, along with their parents. I love getting to spend time with these kids and playing with them. They bring me such joy. Whether it be a rousing game of monkey in the middle, them using me as a human sliding board, or telling each other knock-knock jokes and tooting jokes (they call breaking wind “tooting”), we always have a blast. They are my best buddies!
I spent a day at a lake with them a few months back. They loved throwing rocks into the water, especially big rocks that made a huge splash.
At one point, I sat on the porch watching them and Adessa throwing more rocks into the water. Their dad was sitting next to me, asleep in his chair. All of a sudden, the little girl started screaming bloody murder as her brother went running full speed towards the porch.
Thankfully, it turned out to be nothing that serious. She had a pair of plastic sunglasses, probably from a dollar store, that she was very proud of and had dropped into the lake. This was obviously worthy of all the hysterics!
Her brother ran to the porch and woke his dad up, telling him what had happened. I watched them go to the lake together and saw the father trying to console his unconsolable daughter. Then, I saw something that absolutely amazed me.
The young father walked up to the house, went out to his van, and grabbed a pool skimmer. (I do not know why they travel with a pool skimmer, lol.) He walked back to the lake, took off his shoes and socks, and went into the dirty water to get his little princess her $5 plastic sunglasses.
Then he picked her up and carried her to the porch, hugging her and telling her it would be ok.
I was so impressed with how gently he was treating her. It wasn’t the first time I noticed him being loving and gentle with his kids. He is always so caring and gentle with them, even when he needs to correct them.
I, personally, can’t relate to a father like him. My dad was very different. Let me give you an example to see what I mean.
When we were very young kids, my dad took Adessa and I fishing. It was a disaster as one of us was constantly getting our lines stuck in a tree or the rocks. My dad was so angry and frustrated.
Things came to a head when my sister got too close to the edge and fell into the creek. My dad was livid. He grabbed her, roughly yanked her from the water, and slammed her to the ground. He then verbally abused us both, filling us with fear. What a contrast to my friend.
This is what I grew up with. It wasn’t until I was in my twenties that I realized God wants His men to be gentle and loving. My image of God has always been a mean guy waiting to pounce and abuse me.
But that’s not God. God is more like my friend was with his kids, willing to help whenever we run to Him and ask. He will help us and comfort us.
The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. The Lord is good to all,
and his mercy is over all that he has made. (Psalm 145:8-9, ESV)
Matthew 11:25-30 tells us that God is gentle.
Gentleness is one of the Fruits of the Spirit.
Like my friend, God treats us gently. If we are to walk in our calling, we, too, will demonstrate gentleness to others—especially your children.
So, I encourage you to be gentle with your children and everyone around you. Let the Holy Spirit develop this Fruit of the Spirit in your life. Be a gentle giant of a father figure in the life of your children.
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