Father's Day Gift

     I am thankful for my children and so appreciative of the gifts and presents that they have given me over the years. Drawings, homemade cards, and other crafty items have always been favorites, but more than anything I value the time I get to spend with Rae, Ethan, and Bogi doing life together. Today being Father's Day, it is common practice that our children share gifts with dear old dad, but of significance to today's FTM, I'm a little more focused on the gift's that we dads give our children each and every day.
     Gifts come in varied sizes ranging from teddy bear size all the way up to 6 cylinder automatic level, but I'm actually thinking about the gifts we as dads give our children that will stay with our kids long after the wheels have rusted on those shiny new rims. As fathers we are responsible for teaching our children right from wrong, how to treat others like we would want to be treated, to be honest, to save more than we spend, to love when it might be easier to not, and to provide them with a work ethic that they can exemplify as they grow and mature into adulthood. If we give those gifts in abundance to our children not only will our legacy live on way after we are gone, but our children will have those gifts to call on each day as they face their own challenges and adversity in life. Proverbs 22:6 states it like this, "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." An awesome responsibility for those of us that carry the title of "Dad". 
      As most things in life for every positive there is a negative and here in lies the warning to today's Flat Tire thought. We have the opportunity to train up a child in the way that he/she should go, but we must be careful because just as easy as it is to pass on positive qualities such as work ethic and placing others before self, it is just as easy to be the example of dishonesty, disrespect, or a self-centered mindset. Dads transfer both positive and negative attributes intentionally or in many cases unintentionally, but regardless they pass them down to their children. So, the point of today's message is not to remind the children to make dad a card or take him out to eat, but instead it is a warning to all dads that the gift you give to your children is a precious one and a critically important one for your children's future.
     Unfortunately, we lost our father back in 1994. But, that has helped me realize that our dad didn't leave us when his earthly body had to go, that event just opened the door to my understanding that he left us all three gifts that have made us into the adults we are today. When we die it just brings to the forefront the fact that our legacy, our imprint on our children's lives will guide them, shape them, and help determine whether they will be a quitter in life or if they will persevere regardless of what life throws their way. Thank you Joe E. Carter, for the gifts you gave me on Father's Day and every day that you lived your life.
Coach Carter