It was the first day of the month, and like every month for the last several years, my phone rang. Hearing the phone ring across my desk, I sensed who was calling and reached for my cell phone. My guess was accurate. It was my dad. He calls me several times a month, but without fail on the first day of every month.
Our conversations over the years have focused on different things, but his closing words after every call have remained constant, encouraging, and made a difference in my life.
Right before the line goes dead after every call, my dad would say “I love you, son.” “I’m praying for you.”
I have heard those words multiple times, but the effect is always brand new and never fails to lift up my spirit and help me face life with more determination.
Hearing these words repeatedly from my dad has served as a reminder that words have tremendous power to build up or pull down. And that no one is too old or too young to benefit from hearing good words.
As a result, I strive daily to speak words that lift up my kids. There have been times I used words I regretted, but as I gain a deeper understanding of the power of words, I’m developing the ability to use the power of my words to build my kids even when their actions push me to want to say otherwise.
I have learned that in those few moments when you’re pressured to say something in the heat of the moment, it is better to stay quiet until you’re in the right frame of mind, and have something positive to say or something that can be delivered positively.
Delivering life-building words will require you to be intentional. I like how the book of Proverbs states this in the Bible. It says, “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.”
We are all products of words that have been spoken to and about us, and as dads, we impact the present and frame the future of our kids with our words.
Everyone needs to hear good words spoken to them regularly and your kids deserve to hear them, especially from you.
Here are some words amongst others I say regularly to my kids and why:
- I love you – One of the greatest human need is to be accepted. Nothing says you’re accepted quite like ‘I love you.’ Verbalizing my love often and continuously reinforces the truth that they are accepted.
- I believe in you always – Beginning at a very young age, kids love to please their dads. I have not met a child who intentionally wanted to disappoint their dad (unless they’ve been repeatedly disappointed by their dad). The reality is that failure and mistakes will happen in a child’s life. Hearing those five words, especially from you makes a difference and strengthens their resolve to live their best life. During seasons of success, failure and in between, I have witnessed the effect on my kids every time I tell them, ‘I believe in you always.’
- You’re God’s masterpiece – I want my kids to know they’ve a loving heavenly father who created them as unique individuals in His image, and loves them way beyond anyone of us can fully fathom. I want them to know and remember they are special and important, that there is a God and He is with them always and will never leave them because to Him they are precious.
Are the words you speak to and about your kids life-building? What would be possible if you decided to be intentional about the words you speak?
