Being a dad is not a walk in the park. Every day is not bright and sunny. There are rainy days and stormy seasons. It’s all part of fatherhood. Growing up, I remember hearing the phrase, “April showers bring May flowers.” It reminds us that although April is typically a very wet and stormy season, it will end and May will arrive.
Just like April’s weather sets the stage for wonderful things in May, so do our tough times in fatherhood. We just have to make it through them. Here are some tips to help you become great at handling rainy days in fatherhood:
1. Focus on the lesson.
It’s amazing how we typically find something when we are looking for it. The same happens in our storms. When you are looking for a life lesson that a storm can teach you, you’ll be able to find one and come out of the storm better.
2. Accept responsibility.
Some storms come from no fault of our own, while others have our fingerprints all over them. Regardless of how the storm came about, you have a choice—to accept responsibility for what you can control. This will help you come out of the storm with a clear heart and mind, and it will encourage others who were in the storm with you or watched you go through it
3. Keep your cool.
Getting upset will not help. In fact, it will probably cause you to lose focus and not accept proper responsibility. But when you keep your cool and choose to respond rather than react, you give yourself a chance to come out of the storm a better person.
- How to Keep Your Cool When the Unexpected Occurs
4. Know there’s a greater purpose.
While in the midst of a storm, it can be hard to see any good that may come from it. But there is more to it. The Bible says, “All things work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). It’s comforting to know that even our storms play into God’s overall purpose for our lives.
Related Resource: Characteristics of Growing Dads
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