Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord  (Ephesians 6:4).

I teach middle school.

You’re welcome.

The last few days, I’ve been in a lot of back-to-school teacher meetings, and one of the major areas of focus has been building relationships. The big idea is that kids learn better if they have a positive relationship with their teacher.  I have some questions about the validity of this in a classroom setting–I learned plenty in school, and don’t recall any significant teacher relationships. For that matter, my wife aced her AP test and refers to her teacher as a slave driver.

But when it comes to home, I have no doubt that this idea is spot on. Fathers, our job is to bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. The stuff we’re teaching goes way beyond number sense and punctuation. We’re teaching life, and life eternal. That takes a relationship that is honest and deep and close and open to vulnerability. Hence the do not exasperate your children part of this verse. A frustrated, isolated, embittered child is not gonna be open to Life Lessons with Daddy.

Basically, if they are going to learn from you, they have to believe you.

So be someone they can believe.

Happy Wednesday, Beloved.