By Frank Risper
I’m humbled and happy for the opportunity to once again write about positive things. My mission in writing this column is to effect positive change in people’s mental and spiritual nature. It’s my hope and desire that we’ll grow together as spiritual beings. My goal is for the readers of this column to recognize what their purpose in this life is; as it relates to the vision that God has for each of us. I believe that each and every one of us has a personal relationship with a higher power.
It’s up to us to reach out and embrace the spirit and allow the spirit to guide and direct us down the right path. I understand that in this life the road can be rough. The trials we experience only make us stronger if we allow them to. It’s better to triumph over hard times than to let hard times triumph over you.
We should continue to focus on what’s important. We’ve many distractions on our journey through life.
I write today, especially for the men who are reading this column. I’d especially like to speak to those men who are fathers and; moreso, fathers who have daughters.
I’m a father to 3 children; 2 males and 1female. My daughter is 6 years old, going on 15. I wonder if you understand the magnitude of the trust and responsibility that God has entrusted us with when he blessed us with daughters to raise and care for.
While we’re caring, we must pay attention to who our daughters are as individuals. I personally don’t see how a man couldn’t be there for his daughter. One promise not kept, one missed visit, one less hug when she fell, could ultimately change her perception towards you and/or men in general.
A friend, who is a female, recently inquired about my daughter playing basketball. As we talked about the possibility of her joining a basketball group for young girls, I thought about my daughter as an individual. I know that she watches sports because I enjoy watching sports. She’ll even add commentary from time to time to show me how she is paying attention. However, she has never asked me to purchase a basketball, go to a game or even to play a game of basketball with her. She’s interested in other things like singing, writing, drawing, jumping rope and dancing. Her aspirations are to take over the newspaper or becoming an entertainer of some sort. There are no shortages of times that she wants me to sit down and watch her sing the latest song or dance the latest dance. I’m her biggest fan.
My point is that we have to identify our children’s likes and dislikes. We have to treat children as individuals and not as if they should be or behave the same way. God looks at us as His children and as individuals. There’s one catch to my entire column; in order for you to understand your daughter, you must be around for her. I’m not talking about just on the weekends, or on visitation days or holidays. I’m talking about visiting the school and checking on her in class. I’m talking about showing up for parent teacher conferences (without being asked to). I’m talking about taking her to get her hair done. You have to be around your daughter in a positive way. Is that something that you can do? It doesn’t seem like you are challenging yourself if you can’t. Men we are birthing daughters and those who aren’t in their daughter’s lives are missing a great deal of joy.
I believe that God feels that he has an obligation to us as his children. He made us in his image. As a father, wouldn’t you feel that same obligation?
Remember to keep the faith, trust in God only and seek after a pure heart.
