2014 is now in the History books. Most years have surprises, things we did not see coming both good and bad. Some amount of blessing and burden seems to find its way into every calendar year. A New Year brings a new invitation. The new invitation is to look forward and to move forward. Too much time looking back can distract us from taking our next good step.
The Apostle Paul did not have much of a rear view mirror in his own life.
“Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 3:13-14
We are dads with daughters; let’s remind ourselves again what we want to be about in the coming year:
Demonstrate Love
Don’t demand it
Be good at Listening
Not lecturing
Encourage Big Fun
Not Big Fear
Guard her heart
Not your ego
Celebrate more than
Criticize
Believing her is more important than understanding her
A Fresh Start will help her release her mistakes
Not recycle them
Confess your mistakes
before confronting her mistakes
Share what’s in your heart
Not just what’s in your head
Win the relationship
Not the argument
Protect her from the things that harm
Equip her for the things that hurt
And believe that the Good News is
Still Good, even when the News is bad
We don’t really know what is coming in 2015. But we can show up and swing away at loving and leading our daughters.
Happy New Year
Make it a great one!
Grace and Peace
Dr, Don Worcester
