Brantley and I were snuggling in bed the other night and he said, "Dad, I love you."
I started to reply with my usual, but for some reason was prompted to ask him why he loved his Dad.
"Because you love Mommy," was his reply.
Needless to say I was touched almost to the point of tears. Then came the realization that his understanding of love in large part comes from what he sees. If he sees me speaking rudely or belittling Kate, then that to him is incorporated into his standard of what love is. If I yell and holler and act like the world revolves around me, then he sees that too. If I come home in a bad mood and do not acknowledge the boys or my bride, he might think "that's just the way Dads are."
What an awesome responsibility we have as parents! God has given us the chance to mold and shape the way our little ones understand and perceive the way relationships work. I have been charged with showing love to my wife and my kids, which ultimately shows them who God is, for God is love.
God, please grant me the grace to live in a way that is honorable and right so that the little eyes that see me might be impressed with the image of Christ in their minds. May I do justice to Your Name and be humbled by this awesome responsibility you've given me. Teach me to call upon You for help in this, for I am certainly doomed to failure if left to work it out myself.
