COMPLETE THE HANDOFF

Bryan Wilkerson in his book, From Generation to Generation, relates this story. In the 2004 Summer Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, the American women's 4 x 100 relay race was favored to win the gold medal. The team featured Marion Jones, a sprinter who had won four gold medals at the previous games in Sydney. The American team was already off to a strong start when Jones took the baton for the second leg of the race. She gained ground as she ran her 100 meters and approached Lauryn Williams, a young speedster who would run the third leg.

Williams began running as Jones drew near, but when she reached back to receive the baton, they couldn't complete the handoff. Once, twice, three times Jones thrust the baton forward, but each time it missed William's hand--she couldn't seem to wrap her fingers around it. Finally, on the fourth try, they made the connection. But by that time, they had crossed out of the 20-yard exchange zone and were disqualified. Everyone knew they were the fastest team on the track. The night before, they'd had the fastest qualifying time. But when they couldn't complete the handoff, their race was over.

As important as it is for the previous generation to set the pace by living authentically, at a certain point, a handoff must be made in which the next generation receives the baton of faith and begins to run with it. That handoff isn't as easy as it looks. It isn't automatic. It's the result of thousands and thousands of practice runs.

Dads, that's what those 18 or so years that your children live at home with you are all about, each day is a practice run. Every time you show them a little tenderness, you are preparing them for the handoff. Every time you spend time with your children, you prepare them for the handoff. Every time you teach them, every time they see you live according to your principles, you prepare them for the handoff.

“Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.” (Ephesians 6:4 NLT)

That's your job, dads, because you are a servant. Your children need you; they are depending on you to equip them with the tools and resources to get through life. You do that by being gentle, not exasperating them; by being there and spending time with them; by teaching them with your words and being an example to follow.

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