I don’t know who I am writing this for today but, I think that it is mostly for me as I think about Fathers Day.  I was 29 when my dad passed away in 1996.  He was an incredible man.  In some regards I felt a little robbed because I was at the beginning of my career, full of ideas and really needed a Dad in my life to share my life experiences. 

My Dad was an incredibly Godly man.  He modeled for me daily what it meant to be a real man.  I have always said that if I could be 1/2 the man that my Dad was then I will have lived a life fulfilled.  As my career has developed over the years, my love for writing and my love for the numbers that make up the world of money has only intensified.  My dad was a talented mathematician and ballistics engineer.  He also had a true love for writing and was working on a book until the day that he died.  Now, I get to carry on the interests that he passed down to me.

I often think about the awesome responsibility that we Dads have today.  It brings me to this question.  As a Dad, are we really modeling for our kids what it is to be a real man?  Do our kids see us show respect and love for their mothers in everything that we say and do?  Do our kids see us as a selfless Good Samaritan who helps others?  Do our kids see us value the balance of hard work and time for them?  Do our kids see us in the audience for even the smallest of events?  Do our kids feel inspiration just by being around us? Do our kids see us tithe and give money to the church?  Most importantly, do our kids see Christ in us?

Children are one of God’s biggest blessings and bringing them up the right way is one of the most awesome responsibilities.  We live in a day and time where values are based on what feels good.  God is a secondary thought.  Money and power are the impetus for self confidence.  Success is the truest barometer of happiness.  We live in a world based on entitlement and immediate gratification.  We are taught to depend on other people and Government instead of relying on our own God given abilities and hard work.  We have forgotten what it is to truly live and what defines true happiness.  It is a world of video games and mindless activities for our kids.  Our kids are growing up not being taught the truth of how our forefathers truly intended things to work. 

As Dad’s, we have to live the old values that God has always intended for us and what made this country great.  Most importantly, we have to place the highest of priorities on teaching our kids these values and how to grow up happy, successful and dependent on God while the world around us is losing its way.  

This Fathers Day it comes down to one important question.  Is the world going to teach our kids how to truly live or are we?  It is a huge responsibility.

Tags: Bob Brooks, Deceptive Money, Fathers Day, God, kids, Prudent Money, Work