As we consider our roles as fathers, it does us good to look to the example set by our Heavenly Father. It's no coincidence that the Bible uses familial terms to speak of God. We've been given a perfect example of the attributes that makes a father a good one. We won't live up to God's perfect example, but we know what to do because He's shown us.

God makes many promises throughout the scriptures, promises that are always kept. One such promise that we see repeated many times is that He will be with His children. He will not leave us or forsake us. No matter what is going on, God will be by our side. What does that look like in earthly fatherhood?

Among the many needs a child has is the sense that they are secure, that they are not going to be abandoned or neglected. Our job as parents then is to let them know that we are always there for them, and that doesn't mean saying it. Actions speak louder than words when it comes to making someone feel safe and secure. A child bases things they believe on their past experiences, so every time we show up for them when they need us, they have another thing to look back on and trust that we really are going to be present as fathers. I can't give a formula for this, it looks different for every family. But to put it simply, our kids need to know that we're reliable, dependable, promise keepers. Don't shy away from making promises to your kids, just make sure you keep them.