Successful Fatherhood

Spent extended time working and interacting with my team leader who is based in San Diego during my recently concluded biz trip, and I got to know him better in the process.

Not only was he a master at what he does at work (and I the padawan...:-) ), I found out that there are other things that I can learn from him too, especially on fatherhood. Here is a Christian dad with 2 teenaged sons, totally dedicated to the well-being of his family, and in many ways setting a good example to his boys in these crucial teenage years. Why do I think he is successful? Consider the following:
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(1) He regularly gets calls at work from his sons when I was there, asking him when he can be home to go ride bikes with them, play baseball or catch a movie with them. They call him to discuss weekend plans to go surfing, dirt-biking etc. His sons actually want to spend time with him. With teenaged children, I believe this is an achievement.

(2) His sons are both actively involved in church. He does not need to drag them there. Instead, they are regularly bringing their non-believing friends to church activities. Definitely what all Christian parents want to see.

How did he manage to do these in the lives of his sons? From my conversations with him, I believe these made the difference:
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Firstly, no compromise on quality time spent with his family and his sons. He remarked with a smile that ever since he became a father, he only gets to do the things that his sons want, not the things he wants. It takes years of consistent sacrifice, placing the needs of the kids above himself. No matter how hard he works and how tired he is, he goes home to watch a movie, or throw a baseball with his sons. Through that, I believe his sons can sense how much their dad loves them. It is reaping fruits for him now.
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Secondly, he takes a keen interest in his sons' education. He tutors them personally. He gets them involved in sports from a young age. They ride bikes, take part in extreme sports, play baseball etc. He keeps them away from video and computer games. He chooses schools carefully for them. He ensures correct values are built in. He has plans to enrol them both in 1 year of Bible college before letting them loose in the marketplace. He really invests in their education.
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Lastly, he sets the example for his sons. He walks the talk. He regularly opens up and welcomes dozens of teens (his sons' friends) to his home for meals, swims and games. He knows that many of them come from broken and dysfunctional families. He knows that he cannot possibly adopt them all as his own. What he can do is to at least let them see a real example of what a healthy family can be like, so that they can experience a degree of love and hope. And these relationships open up opportunities for him and his wife and kids to link them up with the church. His sons see what dad is doing, and they have caught on.
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I pray that by the grace of God, I will be as successful in bringing up Nicole and Timothy.
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