Meg Meeker - Hero: Being the Strong Father Your Children Need

Copyright 2017 by Meg Meeker

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First e-book edition 2017: ISBN 978-1-62157-567-2

Originally published in hardcover, 2017

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This book is dedicated to the great fathers who have

personally inspired me to champion your outstanding examples.

My husband Walt.

To my brothers Mike and Bob Jones and my brothers-in-law

Dan White, Ben McCallister, and John Linfoot.

To the younger fathers: Alden, Brandon, Michael,

Freddy, Brad, Luke, Bo, Cory, and Josh.

And for those who will be dads: T and Jonathan.

May you always look at the tremendous role models you

have had and follow their leads.

And most importantly to the great men who came

before us all: My father, Wally, and my father-in-law, Bo. Thank

you for leaving your strong imprint on all of these men.

CONTENTS

Table of Contents

M ore than a decade ago, I started reading Dr. Meg Meekers books on parenting and walked away impressed with her wisdom and insight. Even more, I appreciated her passion for helping moms and dads navigate every twist and turn on the path to raising healthy kids.

Later, I got to know her personally and saw her heart for parents firsthand. It didnt take long for us to become close friends because we really were kindred spirits.

Back then, my children were in their late teens and early twenties. Now, as I sit down to write the foreword for this fabulous book, things have changed in the Ramsey family. These days, my kids are all grown, and Im known as Pappa Dave. I watch with pride as my sons-in-law throw my grandchildren into the air and make those toddlers squeal with delight. It helps me see the importance of dads through a new set of eyes.

Its funny, but Ive never really seen their mothers play that game. Maybe it makes them too nervous, but I honestly think its something that just fits the role of dads. Its a special task reserved for theman activity theyre uniquely qualified to perform.

Looking through the eyes of Pappa Dave, I can clearly see the different roles mothers and fathers play in the development of a healthy, confident child. Moms provide an absolutely essential function in the process. But so do dadsand thats something we should never forget.

Unfortunately, Im afraid too many folks are forgetting it today.

Dr. Meg often points out that this generation of fathers has become the butt of all kinds of jokes, especially in the media. In television shows, commercials, and movies, you rarely see strong fathers portrayed. When you stop and think about it, its tough to find anything in the world of entertainment that shows fathers in a positive light.

We can blame that on Hollywood or bad comedy or misguided parody. But whatever the source of the trouble, we have to admit that the problem is real.

Too many males in our culture have been wussified by the winds of political ideology that have blown across our country. As a result, theyve lost their seat in their own households. So, while they are physically present, they are not spiritually or emotionally present.

Dr. Meg is absolutely right: Menespecially fathersare in desperate need of rebranding.

When I look at my sons-in-law with my grandbabies, I cant help but think about how important it is for someone to tell them just how valuable they are. Someone needs to remind these young menand millions like themthat they are neither court jesters nor ogres. Someone needs to come alongside them and teach them how they can be great fathersthe kind of fathers that firmly, gently, and lovingly lead their families.

Someone needs to tell them how much they matter in the development of their children.

Otherwise, kids will inevitably grow up with a dad-shaped gap in their lives. Dads teach risk, while also providing the security of firm boundaries. Dads see the jerk boyfriends coming from a mile awayand keep them away from their teenage daughters. And lets be honest... fun with dads is a completely different animal than the fun kids have with moms.

Not better. Just different.

And when culture fails to support fatherswhen no one esteems them or teaches them how to be greatwe do our society a disservice. Weve got to help fathers become the men God has called them to be.

I believe Dr. Meg has the antidote for this crisis of culture. God has anointed her in a special way to address this topic. He has raised her up to stand in the gap and to offer hope for such a time as this.

But its only fair to warn you... by the time you finish this book, youll be ready to buy cases of them. Youll want to give them away to as many fathers as you can. It will become your go-to gift every time you come across a dad with a new baby. And it wont just be because this is a great book; its because youll become convinced just how desperately the world needs this message.

Its time for the men in this country to rise up, stand firm, and truly become the heroes their kids need them to be. I truly believe that, with a world full of strong fathers, theres simply no limit to what the next generation can achieve.

O n March 30, 2011, I held my fathers hands for the last time. These were the hands that taught me to cast a fly rod, shoot a 7 mm Mauser, and guide me across the streets of Boston when I was a little girl. Today, they were soft. They were once leathery from working outside feeding cattle or riding horses; his index fingers were stained from tamping tobacco into the mouth of his pipe.

Now they were soft and smooth because they belonged to a man who had suffered dementia for four years. He didnt need these hands in the same way, but still I loved holding them. They were my fathers, my fathers hands, and thats what made them dear to me. As I held his hands that day, I did what I had done for months and months. I read aloud to him from the books he had on his bookshelf. He couldnt speak any meaningful words and I wondered if he knew me. I wanted him to say my name but he couldnt. I wanted him to know that the hands that held his were mine. I think he did because when I sat with him, he became calmer. Sometimes he would cry a little bit when he heard my voice.