Transcript
One of the things that I've commented on is my dad did a great job of imparting just some life skills, everyday skills, but didn't really prepare me for the weightier things of life. I would characterize that as relationship with God and relationship with people in two categories. I think one of the best ways to prepare your son for life is helping as early as possible to be enthralled with the stunning glory and grace of God. Talk about God all the time. Blow your son's mind with the glory of God.
Everyday Opportunities to Prepare Your Son
Now, you have opportunities. If you're building something, stop and talk about the grain of wood, and talk about how beautiful wood is and that beauty came out of the mind of God. You're nailing a nail. Talk about just the force of a hammer and all the physics that goes on there came out of the mind of God.
If you're fishing, remind your child, your son of how different a trout looks from a bass and tell your son that that came out of the mind of God. As you're watching the sunset, talk about the God who rules the day and the night because this is the Father's world. This is God's world. This world is meant to point to Him and your son may not see Him. It's a good possibility he won't and the more he's enthralled with God, the more then he's ready to give himself to God. And what is more important than that?
And then, there's a second great command. It's love of others. Human relationships are hard. Love is hard. And listen, love is hard not because I'm surrounded by creepy people. Love is hard because of what's inside of my heart. I'm judgmental. I'm critical. I'm unforgiving. I'm proud. I'm competitive. I'm greedy. I'm envious. All those things are anti-social instincts.
I wish I would have had a dad who would have looked me in the face and said, "Son, you're going to be leaving this home. You're going to be building relationships and I just want you to hear me say this. The greatest danger to those relationships is you. And there's some things inside of you that God desires to help you with, that God sent His Son to rescue you from. And the more you face those, the more you'll be a person of love. And the more you're a person of love, the more you'll live a life of blessing. Never had those conversations with my father. Oh, I learned a lot of helpful skills but in many ways, didn't know myself, wasn't filled with the awe of God in the way that would have so much better prepared me for life.
