Week 11 - Finances and Fatherhood

 Hey everyone!

I might've mentioned before that the semester I'm in is quickly coming to a close. There's 3 to 4 weeks left. What a strange semester this has been. There's been unexpected changes and obstacles, but there's also been great opportunities for growth and connecting with others. There's still time left, and I still aim to post on this blog from time to time once the semester is over but I'll still be sure to transmit all I can about what I've learned from this class til the very end!

This week our focus was on Finances and Fatherhood, two things that I consider to be very close related. One thing stood out to me the most and I want to address it first. Someone in the class mentioned that far too often, someone judges their worth as a Father by their ability to provide financially. This makes sense, as it's easiest to see how much a man is providing by their income. It's an easy benchmark. I do feel, however, that a man's ability to provide financially does not determine his worth as a father. 

There's plenty of people who I know that aren't necessarily affluent people who are excellent fathers. That's because they're there for their families. They aren't travelling the world, making a name for themselves while sending home money for the wife and kids. They're there at the dinner table every night they can be, listening to their kids and wives. That's the ideal kind of fatherhood for me, one where the father is present in the lives of his family. 

I don't know if I've shared this scripture before, but it always comes to mind when I talk or think about being a father. John 15:13 states that "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." Kids and wives in this instance can be those friends. A man has so much more to offer to his family than his wealth. He has time, he has patience and understanding, he has strength and dignity, and so much more. He can be an example in tough times, and a shoulder to lean on. Being a Christlike man makes one qualified to be a good father. 

We should be careful with our parenting, not just our fatherhood. When we use the lives of our children to improve our own self image, that isn't laying down our lives for them. If anything, it's laying down their lives for our own. Children should be free to exercise their own agency (responsibly, of course), and not have their lives predetermined by their parents. As a father, I can help my children connect with their Father in Heaven, who gives divine intervention and guidance as necessary. I wouldn't want to get in the way of that, or introduce doctrine or ideas that are my own, which run contrary to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

It will be my job as a father to hold up a light to shine on the life of my family. I hope that my children will be able to see the Light of Christ reflected in my own works and deeds. 

Whenever that will be haha. 

Thanks for reading as always! Take care this week and have a good one!

-Caleb