Hey, Dads

This is an excerpt of a speech Michael Jackson gave at the Oxford Union on March 6, 2001.

“Through the grace of God, I have been fortunate to have achieved many of my artistic and professional aspirations realized early in my lifetime. But these, friends are accomplishments, and accomplishments alone are not synonymous with who I am. Indeed, the cheery five-year-old who belted out Rockin’ Robin and Ben to adoring crowds was not indicative of the boy behind the smile. . . I am the product of a lack of a childhood. . . when I was young I wanted more than anything else to be a typical little boy. I wanted to build tree houses, have water balloon fights, and play hide and seek with my friends. . . There was no respite from my professional life. . .

“My father was a managerial genius and my brothers and I owe our professional success, in no small measure, to the forceful way that he pushed us. He trained me as a showman and under his guidance I couldn’t miss a step. But what I really wanted was a Dad. I wanted a father who showed me love. And my father never did that.”

Putting everything that is (or was) Michael Jackson aside, this is heartbreaking. 

Dads, we have the power to shape a little boy or girl into a man or woman of God through the discipline and instruction of the Lord and through true masculine love. And we have the same power to totally crush their little hearts.

Boys and girls need their fathers.

Be a man. Fear God. Love your wife. Repent always. Always be in the Word. Hate sin. Trust in Christ for everything. Always be bringing the Word to them. Spank them. Love them. Kiss them. Ask for forgiveness from them. Lead them. Inspire them to be more godly than you. Give them your heart. Receive theirs.

Proverbs 23:26 

Give me your heart, my son, and let your eyes delight in my ways.

I'll end with what Paul exhorted to the men of his day. By His grace, may we submit to God's word. Help us, Lord Jesus.

1 Corinthians 16:13-14

Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.

-Adam