November 1st, 2023
There are 2 great natural wonders I feel that can serve as benchmarks for what I feel can be a father’s greatest strength or biggest weakness – love and leadership and the frequency of both. I enjoy the wonders of nature and observing some of the great miracles that God created. In Yellowstone National Park there resides one of the most famous natural attractions – Old Faithful. Old Faithful is a geyser that erupts roughly 20 times a day, almost every 90 minutes, give or take 5 or 10 minutes. We also recently experienced another natural wonder in the viewing of a solar eclipse. Now a solar eclipse occurs roughly 2 to 5 times a year depending on where you are on the earth. So, the question for father’s today is “Am I an Old Faithful or a Solar Eclipse when it comes to showing love and leadership to my children?”
The Old Faithful father is the father that has a consistent pulse and touch on their children. Just as Old Faithful erupts every 90 minutes, the Old Faithful father erupts with love and leadership for their children regularly every day. This requires a father to have enough emotional intelligence to realize the needs of their child and be equipped to handle the challenges that they may face and share with you. A great sign of an Old Faithful father is a father whose children feel comfortable being able to come to them when things are not well in their world. Being a Provider and Protector comes as second nature for many fathers, but in both of those roles, we also should look to their spiritual, emotional, and mental health. Providing and protecting those areas will help them be the healthy, productive children that every father desires for their children to become. The Old Faithful father does not become that by accident or overnight. It is a deep commitment to sacrifice themselves for the overall health and benefit of the ones they love.
The Solar Eclipse father is that father that even though they may be physically present, as the sun is every day, their love and leadership are very rarely seen, felt, or encountered, thus the eclipse. While the Solar Eclipse father may be keeping a roof over their head, clothes on their back, and food on the table, their lack of emotional support, guidance and affection will still leave their children unequipped for the world that they have to find success in every day. The Solar Eclipse father probably loves their children just like the Old Faithful father, but life lessons and experiences have shaped him to hold those feelings inside. Showing emotions and affection are not strong traits that they possess, but deep down he desires to give those things. He’s not malicious, he’s just misinformed, misunderstood, maybe mistreated in his childhood or maybe maligned by the woman in his life. Whatever the issue may be for his condition, it is critical to become aware of your shortcomings and work to address them as soon as possible.
Men are the foundations of our families in its’ original order and purpose, so it is important that we as men, fathers, sons, brothers, and friends take time to work on our foundation. By working on our foundation, those that need to depend on us, can do so with no reservation that they will not be burned by our intensity or frozen from our lack of warmth and emotional support. So, our challenge today for fathers is to be that Old Faithful in the life of your children. Your consistency and predictability is what our children need in a chaotic and unpredictable world. Those that are already Old Faithful fathers, please continue and encourage other fathers to join you. For those that are the Solar Eclipse fathers, don’t feel condemned to the same pattern of the past. With God’s grace, a willingness to grow and heal, and a system of support, you too can become that father that may have alluded you when you were a child. Stay encouraged my brothers and remember that you’re not in this alone.
Ephesians 6:4 – “Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.”
Love God, Love People Written by: Reggie L. Carter
The Old Faithful father is the father that has a consistent pulse and touch on their children. Just as Old Faithful erupts every 90 minutes, the Old Faithful father erupts with love and leadership for their children regularly every day. This requires a father to have enough emotional intelligence to realize the needs of their child and be equipped to handle the challenges that they may face and share with you. A great sign of an Old Faithful father is a father whose children feel comfortable being able to come to them when things are not well in their world. Being a Provider and Protector comes as second nature for many fathers, but in both of those roles, we also should look to their spiritual, emotional, and mental health. Providing and protecting those areas will help them be the healthy, productive children that every father desires for their children to become. The Old Faithful father does not become that by accident or overnight. It is a deep commitment to sacrifice themselves for the overall health and benefit of the ones they love.
The Solar Eclipse father is that father that even though they may be physically present, as the sun is every day, their love and leadership are very rarely seen, felt, or encountered, thus the eclipse. While the Solar Eclipse father may be keeping a roof over their head, clothes on their back, and food on the table, their lack of emotional support, guidance and affection will still leave their children unequipped for the world that they have to find success in every day. The Solar Eclipse father probably loves their children just like the Old Faithful father, but life lessons and experiences have shaped him to hold those feelings inside. Showing emotions and affection are not strong traits that they possess, but deep down he desires to give those things. He’s not malicious, he’s just misinformed, misunderstood, maybe mistreated in his childhood or maybe maligned by the woman in his life. Whatever the issue may be for his condition, it is critical to become aware of your shortcomings and work to address them as soon as possible.
Men are the foundations of our families in its’ original order and purpose, so it is important that we as men, fathers, sons, brothers, and friends take time to work on our foundation. By working on our foundation, those that need to depend on us, can do so with no reservation that they will not be burned by our intensity or frozen from our lack of warmth and emotional support. So, our challenge today for fathers is to be that Old Faithful in the life of your children. Your consistency and predictability is what our children need in a chaotic and unpredictable world. Those that are already Old Faithful fathers, please continue and encourage other fathers to join you. For those that are the Solar Eclipse fathers, don’t feel condemned to the same pattern of the past. With God’s grace, a willingness to grow and heal, and a system of support, you too can become that father that may have alluded you when you were a child. Stay encouraged my brothers and remember that you’re not in this alone.
Ephesians 6:4 – “Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.”
Love God, Love People Written by: Reggie L. Carter
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