THREE weeks ago, I became a father and I think I speak for all first-time fathers when I say that the experience and feeling is surreal.
Your priorities and perspective changes. Your view of life and the world changes. You now enter a world and a life of worry and paranoia but an eternity of joy and happiness.
In sports, a lot of successful fathers have advised, guided, taught and mentored their sons and daughters into whether intentionally or unintentionally, follow in their footsteps.
First that comes to my mind is former National Basketball Association (NBA) sharpshooter Dell Curry and his famous son, Steph or Stephen of the Golden State Warriors. Steph has carved quite a career for himself so far and at still a young age, has his whole life and career ahead of him and still has plenty of basketball left to be played.
According to yardbarker.com, “Dell had a fine NBA career, even winning Sixth Man of the Year. And yet to many, he is best known as the father of Steph and Seth Curry. Seth is a fine player, one of the best three-point shooters ever by percentage, but Steph is on his way to being a Hall of Famer. Dell is primarily seen these days in the stands rooting on his sons.“
All father-son and father-daughter journeys are different and unique. My relationship with my daughter will be dictated by how me and my wife raise her, and we will try our hardest to raise her to be pleasing to the Lord’s eyes.
My guess about Dell’s relationship with his son Steph is that he gave Steph a lot of room to choose and make choices. Dell was there to guide him even in times of poor decisions Steph has made, which don’t seem to be a lot.
If God forbid, my daughter trips or falls or stumbles, I will not chastise her or make her wrong, but I will ask her if she wants to stop or if she wants to continue, I can tell her what may happen at the arrival of either decision, but it will still be her choice.
I wouldn’t want her to give up easily though.
I’d like to think I speak for all the fathers and parents out there when I say, we’ll do everything humanly possible to raise them the right way and hope they turn out alright.