Becoming a Dad

I think daily (sometimes hourly) about becoming a father.  I think about what kind of dad I will be and what kind of dad I want to be.  I have the example of Christ and God’s Word to guide me, but I also have a tremendous dad that set a high standard for me to strive to attain.  My dad worked long hours while my sister and I were growing up, getting up in the middle of the night and getting home in the evening, for many years driving back and forth from Hanover to Lancaster.  I never realized as a kid what a sacrifice that in itself was.  But, when coming home he was always ready and WILLING to give his time to me to do whatever… play catch, a game, talk…What’s more, I played a lot of sports from as soon as I was old enough through high school and college.  I was also in the marching band.  During those years (besides college which was 6 hours away), I bet my dad only missed a handful of games and only because there was no possible way to make it.  I think my parents attended every high school football game (home and away) and band competition (every Friday and Saturday, September through November) during my 4 years of high school.  Looking back, I can see now what an awesome sacrifice this was and feel extremely blessed and thankful for the support I had.  It is also truly humbling.  That is the type of dad I want to be…willing to give time to my children whenever, wherever, no matter how tired or what the circumstance.  I want to lead by example and for that example to be a Christ-like witness, grounded in the Word of God.  It won’t be easy, but with the Father’s help, a lot of prayer, and with my amazing wife by my side, I know it’s possible.