Fathers
Kay and Olu Taiwo
If every person really thought about the legacy he or she would leave behind, perhaps his or her life would be lived quite differently.
The brevity of life is a humbling thought. Every day people come and people go. This is the drama of the human experience. The people we remember are those who have taken the time and applied the effort to make a contribution that will outlive them.
Proverbs 13:22 reads, "A good man leaves an inheritance for his children's children..." (NIV)
Far too many men in modern society have been tagged irresponsible, negligent and uncaring. Maybe we need to be taught certain principles that can cause us to change, rather than merely point out where we are inadequate or fall short.
In studying this important subject (that is, on the meaning of fatherhood), I found that the word pater (in Greek) translated father is from a root word signifying: "A Nourisher, Protector, and Upholder. "
Sponsor AdWait a minute! You mean that the word father is not merely a title but a function? That is exactly the case. It is just like the word 'leader' is used today as a title, but it is a word that signifies one who influences people by taking them towards a defined purpose.
The predictable nature of man makes him "accustomed" to hearing something so often, that focusing on the underlying function is lost, and the title he possesses takes center stage.
Notice that Proverbs 13:22 defines who is a good man; it does not focus on the title or the fact that he is a biological father. Instead, the emphasis is on the legacy he leaves for his children's children (that is, his grandchildren). This means that a LEGACY IS NOT AN ACCIDENT. You don't somehow accidentally stumble into one. IT IS PREMEDITATED, PRECONCEIVED, and PREPLANNED.
Let us revisit the three functions of a PATER or FATHER:
1. A Nourisher: This means that a father is responsible for promoting the growth and development of his children. He is a provider. To promote is to aid; therefore a man who is not aiding his children is a hindrance to them. (See Luke 11:11-13).
2. A Protector: a father creates a secure environment for the promotion and growth of his offspring. This means he also disciplines them. (See Hebrews 12:7-9, 11). Teaching children how to function in society is a form of protection.
3. An Upholder: a father elevates or enhances the self esteem of his offspring. A child ought to be infused with "mega doses" of self-esteem-boosting-words of affirmation by the time they are introduced to society. A good father does not tear them down, he builds them up. (See Hebrews 1:3).
I have come to realize that one does not even have to be a father to apply these principles. One can apply them in any area of life. That is, we are supposed to nourish, protect, and uphold:
1. Our visions
2. Our dreams
3. Our business(es)
4. Our destinies
5. Our relationships (with God and man) and etc.
As we can see, a legacy is never left to chance; it is a matter of choice.
(The above is a modified excerpt from Kay and Olu Taiwo’s book: The Progenitor Principle: Why You Must Leave a Legacy Behind)
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