Eph 6:2 "Honor thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise;"

What a joy it is to be a father. I am so very blessed that God gave us two wonderful kids. The one downside to becoming a parent is that when the child arrives, he/she doesn't come with instructions. Now that doesn't mean that you are just on your own, because God gives us guidelines that help us along the way. For instance, He says that we are to raise them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord (Eph 6:4) He also gives a simple directive to the children. They are to honor their father and mother - if they want to live a long life. One thing that I have learned over the years is that you can demand that the position of the father in the home be honored, but the person has to earn that respect. So, as a father, what can be done to warrant that honor? I think there are 3 things that are necessary to be an honorable father. The first is to provide for the home. This means more than just putting food on the table and a roof over their head. It means to provide love and respect for all in the home. The second thing is to protect the home. Protect your home for physical danger and protect your home from Spiritual danger. What we need today are dads who will take a firm stand against the wiles of the devil and quit giving in to whining kids who want their way regardless of the consequences. The last thing is to prepare the children for the future. As parents, our greatest responsibility is to raise our children so they can know and do God's will for their lives. Remember, Jesus said that if a man gain the whole world and lose his soul, he has lost all. Our kids may not understand that while they are experiencing it, but in the end they will honor the father and mother who raises them right.