Dad's Duct Tape

What can dad do with duct tape? (watch)

They say if you give a guy a screwdriver, pair of pliers, and a roll of duct tape he can fix anything.

Wouldn't it be handy to have a go-to like duct tape to fix problems in our children's lives? I bet the Prodigal son's father wished he had a 'duct tape' solution when his son rebelled. As a dad there are times when I have been overwhelmed trying to fix my children.

The truth is, in the story of the prodigal son, I think the way the father dealt with his wayward son provides a great go-to when dad's face problems. I shared Sunday in the Father's day message a three-fold duct tape solution for dad's:

1. Treat your children as people - Children are not furniture nor pets. They are people. As dad's we cannot live their life for them. The father in this story let his son go. He could have withheld the inheritance but he chose to honor his son's wishes. Definitely a courageous act by a dad.
2. Pray for your children. - No doubt if we treat our children more like people than pets we will spend more time praying then punishing. Not that there aren't times that we must punish. Personally, I feel that parental punishment is more of a pre-teen thing. After that they will suffer from their errors enough without dad's correction. But, what accomplishes more, praying or punishing? Every child needs to know they have a praying dad.
3. Pardon your child, loving them unconditionally - Our children need to know that our love for them is unending. So tragic when a person feels that dad does not love them

I gave each father a roll of duct tape to help remember our go-to solution .

What dad's can't do. (watch)