{"id":4983,"date":"2017-09-23T20:58:26","date_gmt":"2017-09-24T01:58:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tampaseo.expert\/focus\/?p=4983"},"modified":"2017-09-23T20:58:26","modified_gmt":"2017-09-24T01:58:26","slug":"dont-tell-children-love","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tampaseo.expert\/focus\/2017\/09\/23\/dont-tell-children-love\/","title":{"rendered":"Don’t Tell your Children you Love Them"},"content":{"rendered":"

By J. Clay Young<\/strong>
\n\u00a0<\/strong>
\nDid that get your attention? <\/em><\/strong>Good. Now maybe you\u2019ll \u201chear\u201d the rest of what\u2019s on my mind. Of course children need to hear \u201cI love you\u201d from their dads, but too many fathers attempt to show their kids they love them in ways that are inconsistent with what fatherhood is all about. A father needs to spend lots of time with his son or daughter. Not a few minutes over a kiddy meal at a fast food restaurant, but serious time. Time throwing ball in the backyard\u2014blowing bubbles together\u2014putting worms on hooks and hoping to catch just one fish. Father and child spending time in activities that take no real talent, and absolutely no special equipment. Just time. Yes, time, and plenty of it. Time spent getting to know one another. Sounds simple enough doesn\u2019t it? But, how many Christian fathers are not participating in these \u201cNorman Rockwell\u201d family moments; moments those children never forget.
\n 
\nUnfortunately, too many fathers are working long hours, week after week, year after year, and providing everything money can buy for the kiddos. And, when dad does find a little time away from the office, he\u2019s on the golf course or spending time in some other buddy bonding activity. Don\u2019t get me wrong. There\u2019s not a thing wrong with hanging out with the guys, getting a little exercise and building strong friendships. The problem is when families, and in particular children, are left holding an empty bag of promises\u2014promises that seem to be on eternal hold. Most dads have the best of intentions in raising their children and do a great job of providing for their physical needs. But, there are needs that are just as important as food, clothing and shelter. In fact, more important. Children long to be wanted and even needed by their fathers. Doesn\u2019t that sound nice? For a father to actually need his children!
\n 
\nMy dad and I spent lots of time hunting, fishing, and even a little camping together. Those are some wonderful memories. So good, sometimes, I wish my dad were still around so I could take him fishing. But, it wasn\u2019t just those times of fun activities and special bonding time, as we call it today. It was how he dealt with me around the house. Whenever there was a project to do, like building a patio or finishing out the basement for some extra space in our small, but adequate house, my dad included me. He wanted me to help. Not that I knew how to do those things, but he wanted me to be involved. He made me feel like he couldn\u2019t do those jobs without my help. The truth is, as I look back, he probably could have finished most of those projects more quickly if I had been off doing something else and out of his way. He took advantage of those \u00a0\u00a0and taught me a few practical skills. No, I\u2019m not a great builder, but at least I can drive a nail, thanks \u00a0to my dad.
\n 
\nJust try something. The next time your son or daughter asks if you have time to (fill in the blank), say \u201cabsolutely\u201d. Stop whatever it is you\u2019re doing that the world can\u2019t live without and focus all of your attention on your child. Let them think you can\u2019t live without them for that few minutes. I promise you, they\u2019ll think you hung the moon\u2014and the stars. And just think, some day when you\u2019re spending your last days in a nursing home, wouldn\u2019t it be nice for your children to know you need them. Because then, you will. And they\u2019ll come, because they know how much you love them\u2014not because you told them, but because you showed them. And as my dad always said, \u201ctalk is cheap.\u201d He was what some would call \u201ca man of few words\u201d, but, he showed me frequently.
\n 
\nMake sure you\u2019re showing your kids you care about them, love them, and can\u2019t live without them. You won\u2019t regret one second. Once they\u2019re grown and gone, and raising a family of their own, the golf course will still be there and the game will be just as frustrating. But then, you can enjoy the game without the guilt. Even more, you\u2019ll enjoy the memories you\u2019ve built with your children. Take another look at Psalm 127:3-5. Now, go grab a fishing pole and \u201cshow\u201d the kids how much you love them.
\n\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By J. Clay Young \u00a0 Did that get your attention? Good. Now maybe you\u2019ll \u201chear\u201d the rest of what\u2019s on my mind. Of course children need to hear \u201cI love you\u201d from their dads, but too many fathers attempt to show their kids they love them in ways that are inconsistent with what fatherhood is […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"give_campaign_id":0,"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[46,52,66],"tags":[898,58,120,755,954,955,1025,68,1026,381,953],"class_list":["post-4983","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-children","category-family","category-think-excerpts","tag-898","tag-children","tag-family","tag-father","tag-february","tag-february-2006","tag-j-clay-young","tag-love","tag-showing-love","tag-time","tag-train-and-nurture","et-doesnt-have-format-content","et_post_format-et-post-format-standard"],"yoast_head":"\nDon't Tell your Children you Love Them - Focus Press<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/tampaseo.expert\/focus\/2017\/09\/23\/dont-tell-children-love\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Don't Tell your Children you Love Them - Focus Press\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"By J. Clay Young \u00a0 Did that get your attention? Good. Now maybe you\u2019ll \u201chear\u201d the rest of what\u2019s on my mind. 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