When asked about leadership Ralph Nader once stated, “I start with the premise that the function of leadership is to produce more leaders, not more followers.”

In my own ministry, it has been exciting to see God launch new leaders into the field as they have caught the vision and answered the call He has given each one. Nothing is more satisfying for me than watching some of those leaders launch when they happen to be my own sons.

In the month of June, we celebrate Father’s Day. According to my quick online research using Wikipedia, it took a little longer for Father’s Day to catch on than Mother’s Day. Interesting. Might indicate we fathers haven’t always done a great job of earning the regard that mothers have. That trivia aside, it is a time when we look at the impact of our own fathers on our lives and, especially for me as a father of seven, the impact of my fathering.

Back to the Nader quote—am I intentionally building into my children the foundations for leadership? Do my footprints lead the way to a life of surrender and dependence on the ultimate leader, Jesus Christ?

Much has been written on parenting and fathering. I’ll not try and sum it all up here. Suffice it to say, I recognize I cannot be the father my children need. Recognizing that, I reach out to the one perfect Father and ask that He continue to mold and fashion me into the father He desires me to be and whom my kids so deeply want and need.

How are you doing? Is it time to take inventory of how you’re doing as a reflection of our Heavenly Father and perhaps fall on our knees asking for His help? We serve a great God who desires to do just that!

No matter what your current track record, God can change the future and redeem the past.

Happy Fathers Day!

(Thumbnail photo by dbking/Flickr)