Hall of Fame Dads

Hall of Fame Dads

 Proverbs 17:6 – “Children’s children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.”

During the winter of 1994 some workers were doing some renovations at the Baseball Hall of Fame Museum in Cooperstown, NY; while moving the WWII display case a worker found an old photograph that had been tucked behind it. The photo was of a stocky, friendly looking man in a baseball uniform with the words “Sinclair Oil.” Evidently he had played baseball for Sinclair Oil sometime in the 1930’s or 1940’s. Stapled to the picture was a note that read, “You were never too tired to play ball. On your days off, you helped build the little league field. You always came to watch me play. You were a Hall of Fame Dad. I wish I could share this moment with you.”

No one knew how the picture got there or who the man was. Sports Illustrated writer Steve Wulf published the story in their April 1994 baseball preview issue. A man by the name of Pat O’Donnell came forward and identified the ballplayer in the photo of as his late father. His dad gave up pursuing his love of baseball to provide for his family. O’Donnell was so proud of his father that he believed he deserved special recognition. He then decided to honor his father with a little ceremony inducting him into baseball’s Hall of Fame. This son was basically saying of his father, “You were a Hall of Fame Dad.”

Every Christian father should have the desire to be that kind of dad. I want to share some thoughts with you that can help us to become the kind of husband and father God desires for us to become.

 1. Know, love and serve the Lord.

 Psalm 128:4 says, “Behold, thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the Lord.” The prime requisite for being a godly husband and father is to fear the Lord. This kind of fear is not some slavish kind of fear but a spiritual fear born out of a love and reverence for God. It is the Old Testament way of describing a person who is saved. The greatest thing you can give your wife and children is a husband and father who knows, loves and serves the Lord with his life. A child or teenager can spot a phony a mile away. Your family needs to know that God is real in your life. Determine to be a Joshua, “…but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

 2. Cultivate a love relationship with your wife.  

• Love her (Eph.5:25) – Men, God commands us to love our wives as Christ loves the church. We are to love them unconditionally, sacrificially and fervently. Don’t just say it, show it! Do those little things that build the love-relationship. Write her a love note, tell her she is special, take her out on a date, remember those special days such as birthdays and anniversaries, etc… She will love you for it. 

• Support her (Ps.128:3) – the Psalmist describes one’s wife as being a fruitful vine. A vine cannot stand on it’s on; it needs something to cling to, something to give it support. A man is to be to his wife what a wall or trestle is to vine. That means you are to support her by being there for her. Cultivate your marriage by loving her, lifting her when she’s down and laughing with her when she is happy.

• Nourish her (Eph.5:29) - husbands should nourish their wives both emotionally and spiritually. One way to nourish your wife is to say positive things about her in front of your children, family and friends. Words of cheer and praise are high octane that will boost her emotional fuel tanks. Nourish her spiritually by cultivating within your relationship a heart for God by worshipping together, praying together and serving the Lord together.

• Cherish her (Eph.5:29) – the word “cherish” means to make warm. The idea is to warm her heart by honoring her. Men, we need to value our wives. Too often she feels unimportant because she takes a back seat to things we give our attention to rather than her. Give her your time by listening to her, sharing with her and enjoying life with her.

 Never underestimate the impact it will have on your children as you love, support, nourish and cherish their mother. It brings stability and security to your family.

 3. Build a relationship with your children.

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   • Provide leadership for your children – dad God has placed you as the leader of your home. Children need an example or role model to pattern their lives after. Too often we relinquish that role to others who are setting the wrong examples. Determine with God’s help to be the spiritual mentor in your child’s life by modeling biblical living before them.

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   • Protect your children – God has given fathers the responsibility of protecting their families. There is not one of us who would not place our own lives on the line to protect our family from an intruder or someone who would physically harm them. However, many of us fail to protect them from the harmful influences of television, worldly music, the wrong kind of friends, internet, etc… Never leave your children in a vacuum. I have always sought to replace any wrong influence I remove from the lives of my children with a positive influence. Give them the right kind of music and reading material, work at building friendships with the right kind of people, place filters on their internet and block certain channels on the television. These preventive measures may seem simple but they may be the difference makers in how your child turns out in life.

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   • Don’t provoke your children – the Bible clearly teaches that we are to consistently discipline our children in love. Too often we discipline out of frustration and anger which only generates further resentment and rebellion in the heart of a child. Ask God to help you discipline your child in love. Pick your battles. Sometimes we are making a mountain out of a molehill. Seek God’s wisdom to know the difference and what must to be dealt with as well as what needs to be left alone.

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   • Build memories with your children – it takes time to build memories. Fathers must make the necessary adjustments in life to spend quality with their children. That means you may have to give up something you want to do in order to do something they want to do. Remember the Hall of Fame dad in our opening story. He put his family first. Next to God Himself our wives and children are to be top priority in our lives. You may object that you just don’t have time. Dad, you must make the time. The future of your family depends on it. Take the time to play ball, go fishing, and play games with your children. Schedule in family activities. And always keep your word. There have been times as a busy pastor that the demands of ministry conflicted with family activities. Be sure to make that time up and keep your promise.

These are just a few suggestions that have helped me and I pray will be a help to you. Dad, none of us have arrived. Let’s just determine to stay at it and ask God to help us become “Hall of Fame Dads!”