A Father’s First Priority

Question: What do you feel is a father's number one priority?

Answer: His most important responsibility, I believe, is to communicate the real meaning of Christianity to his children.  This mission can be likened to a three-man relay race.  First, your father runs his lap around the track, carrying the baton, which represents the gospel of Jesus Christ.  At the appropriate moment, he hands the baton to you, and you begin your journey around the track.  The finally, the time will come when you must get the baton safely in the hands of your children.  But as any track coach will testify, relay races are won or lost in the transfer of the baton.  There is a critical moment when all can be lost by a fumble or miscalculation.  The baton is rarely dropped on the back side of the track when the runner has it firmly in his grasp.  If failure is to occur, it will probably happen in the exchange between generations.

According to the Christian values which govern my life, my most important reason for living is to get the baton, the gospel safely in the hands of my children.  Of course, I want to place it in as many other hands as possible; nevertheless, my number one responsibility is to evangelize my own children.  I hope millions of other fathers agree with that ultimate priority.

By Dr. James Dobson