Jay Payleitner - Its Great Being a Dad: The Best Advice Youll Ever Get

HARVEST HOUSE PUBLISHERS

EUGENE, OREGON

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Cover photos Fotofermer, Aleksandar Mijatovic / Fotolia

Jay Payleitner is published in association with the Steve Laube Agency, LLC, 5025 N. Central Ave., #635, Phoenix, Arizona, 85012.

This book contains stories in which peoples names and some details of their situations have been changed to protect their privacy.

ITS GREAT BEING A DAD

Copyright 2015 the National Center for Fathering

Published by Harvest House Publishers

Eugene, Oregon 97402

www.harvesthousepublishers.com

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Payleitner, Jay K.

Its great being a dad / Jay Payleitner, Brock Griffin, and Carey Casey, CEO, the National Center for Fathering.

pages cm

ISBN 978-0-7369-6296-4 (pbk.)

ISBN 978-0-7369-6297-1 (eBook)

1. FatherhoodReligious aspectsChristianity. I. Title.

BV4529.17.P396 2015

248.8421dc23

2015024241

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In tribute to (and in memory of) our own dads,Ken Payleitner, Leland Griffin, and Ralph Caseywho showed us how to be good dads and continue to teach and shape us even today.

Its great being a dad. And its great to work in an environment that lifts up the role of fatherhood. We are very aware that the work at the National Center for Fathering (NCF) is much bigger than we are.

As we endeavor to inspire and equip dads, so often we find ourselves inspired and equipped by others, such as the children who write priceless essays about their dads and all the dads who truly live out what this book is about with their children. We are thankful beyond measure forand greatly humbled bythe faithful involvement of the NCF board of directors and many others who partner with us as trainers, volunteers, and/or financial supporters.

Through the years, so many wonderfully gifted individuals have been part of our team here at NCF. Currently on our hardworking staff are Steve Wilson, Brian Blomberg, Sherri Solis, Bea Peters, Chelsea Mudd, Steve Stiffler, and Yemescrach (Yemi) Wendemagegnehu. Our dedicated crew at WATCH D.O.G.S. (Dads of Great Students) includes Eric Snow, Shelly Perry, Chris Danenhauer, Frank Hannon, Denise Griffith, Gloria Vaquera, and Keith Schumacher.

The authors are also grateful to agent Dan Balow for his patience and persistence. And to the faithful and accomplished team at Harvest House Publishers, including Gene Skinner, Terry Glaspey, and Bob Hawkins Jr.

From Carey: I am thrilled to acknowledge a few people who have influenced me to contribute to the writing of this book. I will forever be grateful for Mom and Pop, who modeled parenting and a strong marriage for me. I thank God for my bride, Melanie, who has given me four wonderful children. I have fun being a dad of three adult children and a teenage son, Chance, who came 14 years later and is now off at college. As I often state, Chance keeps my fathering fresh. Thanks to Ken Canfield, our founder at NCF, for casting the vision and setting the course. And to all of the influencers who loved me, coached me, and modeled for me the importance of my role as a dad, thank you for your encouragement and support.

Brock sends his love and thanks to Tara, Cole, Brooklyn, and Devanfor making the journey so satisfying and for their patience and grace for a husband and father who is still growing. And to Dad and Mom (Leland and Janet Griffin) as well as Virgil and RuthAnn Warren and the entire Warren clanfor their continuing support and encouragement. To pastors and friends at Legacy Christian Churchfor living the Word and helping us do the same. Also to Ken Canfield and Carey Casey, leaders at NCFfor creating space for me to use my gifts, for continuing to affirm those gifts, and for being key friends and mentors for fathering and for life.

Jay sends his gratitude to his growing familyRita, Alec, Lindsay, Randall, Rachel, Max, Megan, Isaac, Kaitlin, Rae Anne, Judah, Jackson, and Emerson. You inspire and motivate me. I love you all.

And to our Savior, Jesus, who went to the cross for each and every one of us. Without your perfect love and perfect plan, none of this makes any sense.

Contents

W e think being a dad is just about the greatest, most rewarding job in the world. And we want you to feel the same way.

On the book cover are the names of Jay, Brock, and Carey. But this book is actually a labor of love inspired by the millions of dads who have been touched by the work of the National Center for Fathering (NCF).

We love each one of those guys. We love every desperate dad who has walked through our doors looking for help. We love the men who have gone through our workshops and small-group training sessions and have committed to Championship Fathering. We applaud and appreciate the men whose names are inscribed in our Fathering Hall of Fame and who volunteer in their kids schools through our WATCH D.O.G.S. initiative. We care deeply for thousands of dads who read our weekly blogs and sit in audiences inspired and challenged by NCF speakers. We are humbled that millions of men have tuned in to Todays Father broadcasts five days a week on hundreds of stations since 1993.

We pledge to expand our impact through books, e-books, essay contests, fathering court, and winsome social media campaigns. And we take seriously our responsibility to conduct groundbreaking research that helps shape national policy and impacts fathers and families across the country.

Are you with us? Wed like to stand shoulder to shoulder with you.

Representing the National Center for Fathering, we coauthors have logged untold hours researching, writing about, speaking on, advocating for, and simply pondering the concept of fatherhood. Carey Casey has headed NCF since 2006. Brock Griffin is the writing and publications director, having served on staff since 1991. Bestselling author, speaker, and producer Jay Payleitner has been affiliated with NCF for more than two decades. Altogether we have 12 children. Carey and Jay may or may not be adding grandchildren even as this book goes to press.