The power of Fatherhood...what it mean to be a father today-Host James Tomlin

“It is much easier to become a father than to be one,” wrote author Kent Nerburn. It’s true. Even for men who really want the job, it feels intimidating. We can master a sport or a career. But it’s hard to control much of anything in fatherhood. When our baby starts wailing, we can’t make him stop. When our son starts failing algebra, we can’t make him pass. Fatherhood is much slower work.

And what does it mean to be a father today? Today’s “traditional” family looks very different than in previous generations. The father’s traditional roles of provider and protector have seen great change. Often, both parents work outside the home. The dangers we face are the more subtle and insidious attacks from a culture hostile to families. While we still have a need for a nurturing, care-giving mother inside the home, a father’s traditional duties have undergone a transformation. His role as a provider has been split between parents. His role as a protector has grown less obvious.

Fathers today face a greater expectation to be far more engaged. With more moms pitching in as “providers,” we expect dads to be better caregivers. We change diapers and cook and kiss boo-boos. And that’s great. As fathers, we should rejoice in the fact that we can take a greater role in raising our kids. But men still feel wired a certain way, and often, modern fatherhood doesn’t seem like it fits who we think we are. Yet God is always at work, pushing against our impulses and helping us grow ever closer to His plan. Our flesh and fears may try to slow us, but our Lord gives us a spirit of “power and love and self-control” (2 Timothy 1:7).http://www.focusonthefamily.com/parenting/parenting-roles/fatherhood/look-of-a-father