UNDERSTANDING

As usual, our discussion didn't move as quickly as I'd hoped it would.  That isn't bad, especially considering that the topic for our study was built upon five leadership traits that are weighty subjects by themselves. After reading the study sheet over again, I realized that I'd forgot to make the connection to the concept and how it is important to your children's ability to see the Heavenly Father in you.
Of all the qualities that God reveals to us, understanding is the one most spoken of.  Why?  Why is it important to your child that they see understanding in you?
POWER!!!!!!
The God of the Universe, the one who created all that we are, has immeasurable power to affect our lives.  He is not capricious, aloof, or unconcerned with the course of our lives, but at the same time we find ourselves at the whim of the very forces we are told He controls.  As fathers (parents), we enjoy the same control in the minds of our children.  How many times have you heard a child say, "that's not fair", or "Dad just doesn't understand"?
If you allow yourself a moment, you will admit that you have a huge amount of power to control the course and direction of your child's life, especially during the first five to ten years of their life.  This is why totalitarian and centrist forms of governments desire to institutionalize the early years of your child's learning process.  As a Christian father, this is when you should be exercising your greatest degree of teaching.  That teaching process MUST have at its core the gift of understanding what your child is going through, and letting them know that you understand.  As we stated last Sunday, this isn't easy.  You have to go back to your basic memories and pull up some of the feelings you had then.  If your decisions, and child rearing actions are explained to your children, it will make it easier for them to know that their heavenly Father is just as concerned.   As a simple test, wait until you've had to make an especially tough decision concerning them (usually a NO)  and give them a little while to stew about it.  Then, sit down with them and ask them how they felt about your decision.  Give them the freedom to articulate it (unless they become rebellious) and then let them know why you understand how they feel without defending your decision.  "I know how you feel, I was once in your situation once......."  can go a long way toward discussing their feelings.  You won't be trying to defend yourself, because if your actions were valid, time will reveal the wisdom of your actions.  One thing our heavenly Father never has to do is defend his decisions, but He DOES know how we feel. 
OKAY, know that I've said my heart on what we talked about last week, let me sedge way into the coming trait.  Being decisive or deliberate seems like a no-brainer when it comes to raising a child, but it is far from it.  It goes without question that our decisions affect our children in ways they don't understand, so, as part of our lesson discussion I'm going to ask you to be prepared to give an example of being deliberate or decisive.  Why is this a a kingly trait?