Devotion 1: Let's Go Fly A Kite

Grant Grimes 

“Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord" Ephesians 6:4 

The quintessential father figure in every movie is played by a gruff, tough father who eventually learns to soften up and truly love his children. My mind immediately goes to Mr. Banks in Mary Poppins when I read through this verse. A father that is well known, a hard worker, and takes care of his family, yet when it comes down to his children he is quick to provoke them to anger. It might be that he is all too prone to be brought to anger himself. The perfect ending for these movies is the father realizing his mistakes and choosing to be patient with his kids. For many families, this is something that only happens at the movies. In our culture, a father who stirs up resentment in his children is all too familiar. 

Many of us, as we read this devotion, are thinking through the times we resented or were brought to anger by our father or are looking back on moments with our kids. Throughout Ephesians, Paul uses God's design of the family to point back to Himself. A father's attitude towards his children ought to exemplify the Gospel, the relationship between God and humanity. God does not provoke us to anger or resentment but He loves, nurtures, and drives us toward the discipline and instruction of His word. 

Mr. Banks does not lose his stature as a man who loves his family, is hard working, or disciplined, but begins to do these things in a nurturing caring way. This is the perfect ending. The world tells us this isn't the everyday father but we need to understand we aren't trying to be the everyday father, we are trying to show our kids the love and care our heavenly Father shows us. One of the greatest gifts I have been given by my dad is that he never ignored my request to “go fly a kite," but was always eager to be a part of my life and to bring me up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. For some of us, we need to continue this with our kids, and for some of us, we need to be the first. 

When it comes down to it, which father are you going to be? 

Memorize the following verse, “As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him.” Psalm 103:13