I woke up this morning to your mother wearing a T-shirt that said in big letters, “You're going to be a DADDY” What a beautiful moment in my life to think that I get to be apart of the raising of God’s people. That God wants me to be an instrumental part of your life. Sometimes it’s hard to believe that it’s really here that in 9 months I’ll be a dad. I look forward to being your father, to being the window into what this world is all about. I humbly take on the role of your father. I know the responsibility that God has placed on men and the fact that I will have a lot to do with the way you see our Savior. It’s scary yet a challenge that I will take on only by the power of the Lamb. The only reason that I will be able to be any sort of father that you would want to emulate someday, will be because of the goodness and sovereignty of Christ. If you see Christ in me at all it’s because he’s been work in my life. All good things come from him, I’m not capable of anything good on my own. What a road we have ahead of us. I apologize now for the moments when I won’t be who you want me to be. I’m not capable of fulfilling the wedge that we as humans were created with. Only the love of your heavenly father can do such a thing. Your mother and I are beyond happy to step into this journey with you. If anything I hope you get your mother’s freedom. Her free spirit that finds the joys in this world. But most of all I hope you understand one thing. God loves you. Oh how he loves you. I pray that someday he comes and takes your soul and lets you into the blessed kingdom. To experience the love of your heavenly father, the intimacies of this life. The depth of life that he wants to show you is far greater than anything this life has to offer. This is my prayer for you this night on finding out your conception:
Father,
What a beautiful thing Ashley and I are about to embark on. We get to be apart of raising your people. What a privilege. I pray for Ashley and her body and that you let her be a place for the baby to grow, to start to form its legs and arms and ears and eyes. Most of all father I pray you take this babies soul. I pray you rescue it from a life without you. I pray you give it real life, eternal life. A life that I’m not capable of giving, only you. I pray to be the kind of father that shows them how wonderful and immeasurable your love is for them. The love that I have come to understand is so beautiful. I pray you help me when it’s hard, when I don’t know what to do, or when I feel like a failure. I pray for the strength to discipline, even when it’s rough. Even when I may not want to, let me not fail at this. Help me to find their strengths and tell them where they came from. Help me to be an example of your love. Help me to be a servant. To be humble before them. To be honest about my own faults and failures. To show where the blood was shed for me. May they never see me as perfect, for I’m not. But may they see a father who deeply loves you and wants to be a man after your own heart. A man who hears his father’s voice and goes where he is called to go. When they see me fail them, give me the courage and humility to ask for their forgiveness. May they see me fall deeper and deeper in love with their mother. May they see me serve her, love her, and kiss her. May our house be a house filled with laughter and a place of grace. Give us the ability to trust you even when it doesn’t look promising. May we be a house where we remember the times you shined through the darkness.
New life father, what a beautiful thing, from my flesh, from my own blood, you give us new life. I pray I fall more in love with you Lord. That through the birth of my children I see how much you love me, how great your love is for your children. May I never crush the childlikeness in my little ones, but may I encourage them to maturity. To a life of deep intimacy with those around them and especially with you. I pray they slow down and see the depths of life. I pray they notice the way you scatter the clouds in the sky every day. The wonderful taste of food and drink. The way no two sunsets are the same. The way the ocean waters crash on the shore or the crickets chirp in the darkness of the night. May they see what you see and love what you love. I pray they take their mother’s love for people and run with it. Her care free spirit and love of life. Father so much of this will be hard, so much of this will look impossible, but give me the strength to be a good father. May all that we do be for your glory and your kingdom, but may we swim in the joy that your death brings, the freedom, the abundant life, the passion for you and for each other. May I lead our home as you lead your people, with great love, passion, and humility. Bless this home father. I love you.
Amen
