Becoming a Dad

So we just found out the sex of our baby that’s on the way and… it’s a boy!

Asher Roman Speegle.

Courtney and I are only a few months into this journey and we have laughed, cried, and prayed the entire way.

Once you start calling your child by name, the reality of it really seems to start hitting home. And I would be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous.

For one – I can probably count on one hand how many times I have a held an actual baby. Then, there seems to be an endless amount of techniques and rules you must learn regarding exactly how to care for a baby.

It may be just me, but learning how to swaddle, cradle, wipe, and burp a baby is a lot to take on all at once. (Thank goodness his mom has the whole “Mom thing” on-lock!)

While so much of my attention has been focused on preparing for the physical reality of having a child, becoming a parent is also a weighty matter for the soul.

God is entrusting Courtney and I with the development of our child’s soul and the path that he will decide to take in life.

One day when Asher is tucked into bed and I’m reading him Bible stories he will hear me talk about how God is our Father. At that point, he is going to connect the way I have loved him to the way that God loves him.

I have the responsibility to help him to connect to the love of God.

If I’ve done my job he will smile and say, “God loves me like you do, Dad?”

And I’ll reply, “Even more.”

That’s a huge responsibility, but one I am honored to have.

I’m beyond excited to be a dad. I’m already day dreaming of teaching him how to play basketball, build fires, catch fish and make brownie points with his mom by leaving sticky-note love letters.

I plan to teach him about why Batman is better than Superman and why he should always open the door for his mom.

However, if I was to only teach him one thing, I pray that I teach him about living a life in relationship to Jesus.

I’m praying that one day he will buy into the words found in Matthew 6:33-45

“Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.”
Matthew 6:33-34 (MSG)

I could spend hours in a basketball gym teaching him a jump shot (which I plan to do) …

We could hire a tutor  so that he gets the best grades…

We could send him to the best college so that he could have the best career…

But the truth is, none of that makes an eternal difference. My hope is that we spend the most time teaching him what matters the most – Jesus.

This world will fail him one day.

I will fail him one day.

His own efforts will fail him one day.

The love of God, however, will never fail him.