“Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of children is their fathers” (Pro. 17:6). It is a great joy to hear from our children, “I love my daddy. I’m proud of my daddy.”

Yes, being a father is a gift and privilege from God. Yet it also comes with enormous responsibility. I’m now a father for the past 17 months and will be for many years. I know I won’t be a father forever. So I need to grab every opportunity to help my child treasure and cherish his relationship with me and my wife.

Being a father is not just a God-given gift, it is also a great responsibility. It is a gift we don’t own. We are to take care of it as stewards who will one day stand before God and give account to how we raise our children. So before that day comes, may God find us faithful in parenting according to his design. Many families today are broken and failed to experience God’s good plans for their family because of the many fathers who have failed to fulfill their God-given responsibilities. On the other hand, families thrive and remain strong through fathers who faithfully lead their family in accomplishing God’s purposes for them.

On a Fathers Day two years ago, when my wife was still pregnant, I committed myself to “Seven Resolutions” in front of God, my wife, and our church. These are my commitments as a father, promises that I desire to fulfill by the grace of God.

I divided these seven resolutions into three categories. The first is about my relationship with God. Before I become a father, I am first a child of God.  I know that the greatest thing I can do as a father is to love God with all my heart. The second is about my relationship with my wife. Before I become a father, I am first a husband to Jodi. The second greatest thing I can do as a father is to love my wife. The third is about my responsibilities as father. The order these resolutions are listed are deliberate. It cannot be rearranged. Child of God, husband, father – in that order.

If you are or will be a father, I hope that as you read and reflect on my resolutions, you will also say, “That’s also my commitment!” Or, “I want to make the same commitment!”

If you are a father who failed in your responsibility to your family, may you see the triumphant grace of God and hope that God can still do amazing things in your family.

If you are a wife saying, “That’s not my husband,” or a son or daughter saying, “They are impossible for my father,” don’t lose hope. Pray to God who alone can change our hearts. Continue loving your father and respecting your husband, even if you think he doesn’t deserve it.

If you are saying, “That’s my father!” or “That’s my husband!” then thank God for them. Let your husband or father know how much you appreciate them and their hard work for your family.

In my next posts I will tell you my seven resolutions as a father.

How about you? Do you have your own resolutions? Or if don’t have one, do you want to try to guess at least one of the seven resolutions I’ve made?