PARENTING June 13, 2005 Issue

A FATHER'S DAY WISH

CURT WAHLBERG

I love taking my kids to the park. Recently we went right after a rain, and there were puddles. Often we'll put on boots and play in the puddles, but this was a shoe day. And the kids know that means we stick to dry ground. As we walked past a big, muddy mess, one of my three little guys turned straight for it. I warningly called to her. She didn't stop. I called again. She turned a little in my direction but kept herself on course.

I almost grabbed her. But another desire came over me. It felt like a prayer. More than wanting to see her stay dry and clean, I wanted to see her express the natural obedience I knew she had. And I found myself thinking more about this innate obedience than about what I wanted. Suddenly she veered back toward us and took my hand.

I love moments like that. I particularly appreciate seeing how investing love and prayer in my kids can pay off. The key is discipline: my own mental discipline, that is. Continually asking myself, What am I focused on seeing—their natural goodness or their missteps? Also being alert to what kind of "consciousness" I'm building around them. In other words, what example are my thoughts and actions setting for them? I find that this has a direct bearing on how they behave. And it's more of this mental discipline that I'm hoping to get this Father's Day.