Often, the key to making a difference in your child’s life is both simpler and harder than you think. This week on Home School Heartbeat, five men recount how their fathers have influenced their lives. Today, homeschool graduate Jacob Baum talks about one outstanding trait of his father.
Jacob Baum:
Well, I love my dad for many, many reasons. And it’s kind of hard to talk about only one of those reasons today. But here it goes: my dad is always available. He is always available to listen, to love, to encourage. I am almost 22 years old now . . . and, well, I still go to my dad for advice when I am struggling with something or when I need counsel.
I always find it easy to approach him, because I know that he will lovingly tell me the truth and then always, always seek to build me up, not to tear me down. During my childhood years, I knew I could always go to my dad with everything: with my hurts, my joys, my pains, my triumphs. He was always ready to listen to me—often laughing with me, sometimes grieving with me, but always, always encouraging me.
In this way, as in so many other ways, I hold up my dad as really just an example of what true fatherhood is. When I look at my earthly father, I see a small picture of what my heavenly Father is like. My dad is a man who follows in the footsteps of Christ and honors my heavenly Father. When I grow up, I want to be just like my dad.
