A Story, A Poem, and A Devotional

Happy Friday, Friends!

I hope and trust this post finds you all having a great day as a glorious new day begins to dawn in my Sweet Home Alabama!

This week, I want to share three things with you: a story, a poem, and a devotional. They speak for themselves, so I won’t add much more. I will share them, let you think about and process them, and then you can do what you want with them.

The Story

Last week I was visiting with a colleague. He was telling me about a 90+-year-old woman he had the honor of working with. She was mentally sharp and spunky. He asked her what she did, what she would attribute her vitality to. She told him that she gets up every morning, gets cleaned up, puts on make-up, gets dressed and then fulfills her purpose. She stated that she can no longer get out like she could when she was younger so she sits and writes notes of encouragement to her grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. She stated, “That’s my purpose now.”

We can learn a whole lot from this short story! It inspires me! I fully intend to be doing everything in my power to encourage, empower, and equip others until the day I meet Jesus face to face.

The Poem

A fellow Rotarian quoted this poem by memory on Monday. It was the first time I had heard it and I immediately knew I had to share it with all of you.

Equipment

By Edgar A. Guest

Figure it out for yourself, my lad,

You've all that the greatest of men have had,

Two arms, two hands, two legs, two eyes,

And a brain to use if you would be wise.

With this equipment they all began,

So start for the top and say "I can."

Look them over, the wise and great,

They take their food from a common plate

And similar knives and forks they use,

With similar laces they tie their shoes,

The world considers them brave and smart.

But you've all they had when they made their start.

You can triumph and come to skill,

You can be great if only you will,

You're well equipped for what fight you choose,

You have legs and arms and a brain to use,

And the man who has risen, great deeds to do

Began his life with no more than you.

You are the handicap you must face,

You are the one who must choose your place,

You must say where you want to go.

How much you will study the truth to know,

God has equipped you for life, But He

Lets you decide what you want to be.

Courage must come from the soul within,

The man must furnish the will to win,

So figure it out for yourself, my lad,

You were born with all that the great have had,

With your equipment they all began.

Get hold of yourself, and say: "I can."

The Devotional

I am doing a Bible Study on the YouVersion Bible App. The study is titled Faithful Fatherhood. Legacy Minded Men wrote this plan. You can learn more about Legacy Minded Men at https://www.legacymindedministries.org. While it is titled and written for men, I promise this study has great information for moms and dads. I am sharing what I read yesterday morning, Day 4 of the plan.

Parenting in Faith: A Devotional for Fathers

Fatherhood is a journey filled with joys, challenges, and fears. Many of us worry about whether our kids will turn out right. Will they make wise decisions? Will they follow the Lord? These fears can sometimes shape our parenting in ways we don’t intend. But as I’ve learned, parenting in fear creates fear in our children. Parenting in faith, however, inspires faith.

Fear vs. Faith in Parenting

When my children were young, I often parented from a place of fear. My constant corrections—even with good intentions—communicated to my daughters that they could never meet my standards. While I aimed to teach them excellence, I unintentionally eroded their confidence and created distance in our relationship.

But then I discovered a transformative principle in Hebrews 3:13: “Encourage one another daily, as long as it is called today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.” The Bible calls us to encourage, to put courage into others. This principle applies powerfully to fatherhood.

Consistent encouragement tells our children who they are, inspiring them to live up to their God-given potential. Correction, while necessary, tells them who they are not. Both have their place, but encouragement fosters confidence and a stronger relationship.

The Power of Encouragement

Encouragement means speaking life into our kids. It’s telling them, “I’m proud of your effort,” or, “I’m so glad God put you in our family.” These affirmations help our children see themselves as God sees them—loved, valued, and capable. Over time, I shifted from constant correction to intentional encouragement, and the results were profound. My children began to listen more, grow in confidence, and strive for excellence on their own.

I’ll never forget a conversation with my high school daughter, Madeline. I had been practicing encouragement for years when she said, “Dad, years ago, I felt like I couldn’t do anything right in your eyes. Now, I feel like I can’t do anything wrong.” Her words affirmed the power of encouragement in shaping our kids’ confidence and faith.

Practical Steps to Parent in Faith

1. Speak Life Daily: Use affirming statements like “That’s impressive,” “I’m proud of you,” or “God gave you such a great gift.” Let your words reflect how God sees them.

2. Focus on Who They Are: Instead of pointing out mistakes, emphasize their strengths and potential. This builds their identity and inspires growth.

3. Pray for Them: Cover your children in prayer, asking God to guide their hearts, protect their paths, and use their lives for His glory.

4. Trust God’s Plan: 2 Timothy 1:7 reminds us, “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” Trust that God is at work in your children’s lives and has a good plan for their future.

A Call to Action

Fatherhood isn’t about being perfect; it’s about being present and intentional. When we parent in faith rather than fear, we inspire our kids to become confident, faith-filled individuals. Begin today by speaking life into your children. Tell them who they are in God’s eyes, and watch as they grow in confidence and faith.

What kind of dad do you want to be? Let’s choose to parent in faith, creating a legacy of encouragement, love, and trust in God.

Please don’t hesitate to contact me if there is ever anything I can do for you or your family. I will always help you any way I can. You can reach me at kevin@whatwillyourinfluencebe.com.

Have a great day, a wonderful weekend, please cherish your precious family, and please stay well!

Kev