What we grow up with, we become convinced is normal.
One of the great joys and one of the great sadnesses I experience as a pastor is hearing people’s stories. It’s a joy because often they include miracles of God’s saving, redemptive, and restorative power. It’s a sadness because before the salvation, redemption, and restoration there is brokenness.
In twelve years of listening to people’s stories, there is a repetitive theme I’ve noticed: what we grow up with, we become convinced is normal. While this theme seems to be true for both men and women, it has left a permanent imprint on me as a father of a young girl.
When men treat with contempt and an utter disregard the sanctity of a young girl’s life, that girl slowly becomes convinced those experiences are normal. As they grow up, they often don’t pursue anything different because they’ve never known anything different. They get stuck in a vortex of abuse and exploitation.
Dads with young daughters, here’s a word for you. How you treat your daughter, she will become convinced is normal. How you treat her mother, your daughter will believe is normal. And as your daughter grows up, there is nothing more natural than to pursue that which she has seen to be normal.
My relationship with my wife and my relationship with my 4-year old daughter are cementing in her mind already the type of relationships she will pursue and nurture as she reaches into adolescence and adulthood. As her dad, I have an extraordinary opportunity to model for her what she should look for and accept and what she should reject. Dads, make the most of these days! They are short.
For more on this topic, this week I will be giving away two copies of the book, Family Shepherds: Calling and Equipping Men to Lead Their Homes by Voddie Baucham Jr.. To enter, simply sign in to the Rafflecopter giveaway below and enter either by following me on Twitter, on Instagram, or on both! Winners will be chosen and notified by email. At this time, I do ask that only those living within the 48 contiguous United States enter the giveaway. Thank you for understanding.
In twelve years of listening to people’s stories, there is a repetitive theme I’ve noticed: what we grow up with, we become convinced is normal. While this theme seems to be true for both men and women, it has left a permanent imprint on me as a father of a young girl.
When men treat with contempt and an utter disregard the sanctity of a young girl’s life, that girl slowly becomes convinced those experiences are normal. As they grow up, they often don’t pursue anything different because they’ve never known anything different. They get stuck in a vortex of abuse and exploitation.
Dads with young daughters, here’s a word for you. How you treat your daughter, she will become convinced is normal. How you treat her mother, your daughter will believe is normal. And as your daughter grows up, there is nothing more natural than to pursue that which she has seen to be normal.
My relationship with my wife and my relationship with my 4-year old daughter are cementing in her mind already the type of relationships she will pursue and nurture as she reaches into adolescence and adulthood. As her dad, I have an extraordinary opportunity to model for her what she should look for and accept and what she should reject. Dads, make the most of these days! They are short.
