Happy Father’s Day - My Story with My Father

Greg Taylor

My father died two years ago, and I miss him daily. His own father was inadequate in many ways, but my dad made the choice not to carry that legacy forward but to build a new one. Some of you may have had excellent fathers. Some may have had experiences similar to my dad’s. In either case I hope this encourages you to create the solid ground that your kids need to become the best version of themselves.

I am so glad my Dad made the decision and commitment!

This is my journey on how I built a Foundation to be a present, faithful Father.

I’ve mentioned before about how important a solid foundation is in life. Many of you are fortunate enough to be fathers, and this discussion will highlight that very important job. If you don’t have children, these principles can also apply to other relationships in your life.

Fathers - you cannot build your best life for your children until you have a meaningful foundation and understanding of what your behavior means to your child.

The impact of a father’s behavior:

In President Barack Obama’s 2008 Father’s Day speech, he states that children who grow up without a father are 5 times more likely to live in poverty, 9 times more likely to drop out of school, and 20 times more likely to end up in prison. If that’s not a testament to the importance of fathers, I don’t know what is.

As we celebrate Father’s Day, I want to share how I learned the valuable lessons of fatherhood by understanding my grandfather, my father, and myself as a father.

These are the Foundations of a Father.

Foundation 1: Forgiveness - My Dad’s journey with his Dad
Foundation 2: Honor - My Journey with My Dad
Foundation 3: Don’t Bring Your Children to Anger - My Journey with My Sons

Foundation 1: Forgiveness

My Dad’s Journey with His Dad

Are you building a legacy? The first step to building a legacy is to forgive those who have hurt you in the past. My grandfather did not give my dad the love, time, encouragement, and discipline that my father gave me. My father did the opposite, and yet he chose to become a great dad to his children. He forgave my grandfather and started his own legacy. I will strive to continue my Dad’s legacy and make it thrive in my family.

Ephesians 4:31-32 says, “Get rid of all bitterness, rage, and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as Christ God forgave you.”

Foundation 2: Honor

My Journey with My Dad

Do you honor your parents?

Ephesians 6:1-3 teaches us to honor our father and mother. When I first read this scripture, I realized I was not fulfilling this scriptural charge. I became conscious of my behavior and how it impacted the people around me. At age 37 I gave my life to Christ and asked for my parents’ forgiveness. I honored them by breaking the chain in our relationship, which led to deeper life discussions and a better relationship.

Ephesians 6:1-3 says, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother, which is the first commandment with a promise, so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy a long life on the earth.”

Foundation 3: Don’t bring your children to anger

My Journey with My Sons

Anger and frustration are shaky ground on which to build a foundation. Even though my father did not have a good example for his dad, he did not bring about anger and frustration in his children. In my journey with my sons, I could not have stopped bringing them to anger unless I honored my dad first. Since it’s hard to teach something you don’t already possess, I had to learn to be a good son before I could teach Trey and Trent to be good sons.

Ephesians 6:4 says, “Fathers, do not exasperate your children, instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the lord.”

I will continue to take what my Dad started and make it thrive through my family. My challenge to you is to build your legacy one generation at a time. No matter what your current circumstances are, you have to make a choice.

What are you going to do with the life you’ve been given?

Love to hear your success story or challenges with your father or children.

I would love to come and speak to your community and business about The Foundation of a Father!

Download "A Father’s Commitment"

I wrote this after both of my son’s finished college to share with people what I learned, what I did well at, or things that I should have been better at! Enjoy!.

We are not perfect but we can GET BETTER!