A super simple way for our kiddos to appreciate their dads on Father’s Day- have your kids write a bunch of reasons why they love him and then tape them on his bathroom mirror…. Happy Father’s Day to all you dads out there!!! We’re grateful for you.
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Something my dad drilled into me growing up was to not care what other people think.
My dad’s mother was married 7 times and died at 49 years old. He met his “real” dad when he was 25 years old.
My dad has had every reason to care deeply what others think of him – to find his security in others’ confidence in him. But, he doesn’t.
He’s beat the odds and has been married to my loving mother for 48 years.
He was and is a trailblazer.
He simply doesn’t care what people think. I’ve always loved that about him.
Sometimes it makes my mom mad, like when they were first married and he served salad to the guests with his hands (eeks!), and my mom had to run to get serving forks.
But, many times it’s what draws her to him.
Like being passionate about meeting people and making them feel like they can achieve anything they put their heart and mind to and by caring about the heart above all.
To let go of the naysayers and push forward when you believe in something.
I’m grateful that when I was a little girl he showed me to not care what others think by his example. That same quality is one of the things that drew me to my husband thirteen years ago.
I’m not talking about hearing and gaining wisdom from others. I’m talking about caring too much what others think and being swayed by them in an unhealthy way.
Do I struggle with this at times? Yes. I think we all do to a degree, but having my dad’s example in this has made a great difference.
We all have the chance to instill these freeing truths into our kids’ hearts.
I want my children to care mostly about what God thinks. And, I want them to care what they think of themselves.
I don’t want them to care about trends.
I don’t want them to care about what course culture takes.
I want them to follow their deep convictions and what makes them come alive.
Let’s remind our children over and over again that true life and joy are found in Jesus.
That the here and now is temporary, but that the Lord and the Eternal lasts.
That we DO NOT have to jump on the bandwagon.
That we can run freely with the Lord – the life-giving way – by not loving the opinions of others, but loving the Lord with all our heart, mind, and soul, and loving others.
Jesus sure had all kinds of harsh critics to the very end. People on his side, and people against him.
But, he was never swayed. And because he didn’t get swept up in others’ thoughts of him, but followed God unceasingly through his life and to the cross, rising on that third day, we can have life with the Lord now and forever when we believe.
Lord, when we struggle with caring about the approval of others, help us to find our worth in you, Lord, and not in the world. In the things that matter, not in the temporary. And, help us teach our kids to do the same through our example. In Jesus’ Name, amen.
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Linsey Driskill 