Dare to Be a DadSample

# YOUR CHOICE MATTERS ## HEART In the coming days, you have some big choices to make; choices that will really test your character and make you look deep inside your heart and soul. Whether you’re expecting your first child or adding to a growing family, new babies come with a lot of responsibility. If you’re still questioning whether you have what it takes, let me assure you, you do. Stress, lack of sleep, and waves of emotion can easily cloud your judgment, but my hope is that you stay focused on what matters, so that you won’t regret the decisions you make. Just like your voice, your choice matters, too. In reality, you’ve already made a series of choices that brought this child into the world. Now, you have to choose if you’ll receive him or her into your life, and more importantly, into your heart. I know how hard it can be to open your heart to something you don’t feel ready for. My third child, Bowen, was born with a life-threatening heart disease. Before he was born, we knew he would need three open-heart surgeries to survive. I had to decide if it was worth opening my heart to something that could break it. With God’s help, I answered, “Yes.” Bowen is twelve now, and though we’ve had challenges, he has brought more joy into my life than I could have ever imagined. There are many ways that God has used his “broken” heart to make our family even more whole. One of the great joys of manhood is being a dad. Few relationships can be so meaningful. Any man can become a biological father, but emotionally present dads experience rewards that are earned through love, sacrifice, and trust built over time. Your choices in life matter. We live in a culture that is very individualistic, but the reality is that every choice you make affects the lives of others. That’s why your connection to God is so vital. You have what you need in him. Truth, wisdom, love, and power come straight from the One who created you. He can give you the courage you need to choose well. Meaningful relationships take sacrifice, and sacrifice is all about placing the needs of others before your own. It takes an emotionally healthy man, a man who knows who he is and whose he is , to live that way. Ready or not, you have to decide if your child deserves the same dignity you were given, to live. You also need to decide if you’ll receive this child into your loving arms as your own son or daughter. You have a choice. Do you have the courage to make it? Will you have the courage to receive your child wholeheartedly? ## WORK It’s vulnerable to admit, but what part of becoming a dad makes you feel anxious? What part of becoming a dad makes you feel excited? Will you choose to receive your child into your life and heart, even with the challenges to your own security or comfort? Why or why not? Make a list of a few decisions you have to make this week. An ancient tradition in times of decision is to fast. Consider setting a time to fast (avoid) certain music, comfort food/drink, or relationships that may bring confusion. You may want to fast technology and entertainment to bring quiet and clarity. God is speaking. You are not alone!