For a course on cross-cultural understanding, I reviewed Hair Love, a children’s literature. It is an inspirational book about a father helping his daughter style her hair. During my critical review, I found an article that states: “Evidence suggests that from infancy to adulthood, warm, close, and responsive father-child relationships have diverse and significant influences on children’s adjustment, especially on daughters. During adolescence, positive father-child communication is associated with greater self-esteem, better school adjustment, lower depression, and substance use” (Bireda & Pillay, 2018, as cited in Sağkal, Özdemir, & Koruklu, 2018)
Mommas, let’s keep supporting good fathering. There is no reason to compete in parenting.
I pray that fathers in our lives will positively influence our children and their presence in the home will point our children to the Heavenly Father.
The article also reminded me of this Bible story about Zelophehad’s Daughters in Numbers 27:1-11
Zelophehad’s Daughters
The daughters of Zelophehad son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Makir, the son of Manasseh, belonged to the clans of Manasseh son of Joseph. The names of the daughters were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milkah and Tirzah. They came forward and stood before Moses, Eleazar the priest, the leaders and the whole assembly at the entrance to the tent of meeting and said, “Our father died in the wilderness. He was not among Korah’s followers, who banded together against the Lord, but he died for his own sin and left no sons. Why should our father’s name disappear from his clan because he had no son? Give us property among our father’s relatives.”
So Moses brought their case before the Lord, and the Lord said to him, “What Zelophehad’s daughters are saying is right. You must certainly give them property as an inheritance among their father’s relatives and give their father’s inheritance to them.
“Say to the Israelites, ‘If a man dies and leaves no son, give his inheritance to his daughter. If he has no daughter, give his inheritance to his brothers. If he has no brothers, give his inheritance to his father’s brothers. If his father had no brothers, give his inheritance to the nearest relative in his clan, that he may possess it. This is to have the force of law for the Israelites, as the Lord commanded Moses.’”
God loves women. He loves our daughters. Don’t believe the lie that the Bible is inherently misogynistic.
Reference
Sağkal, A. S., Özdemir, Y., & Koruklu, N. (2018). Direct and indirect effects of father-daughter relationship on adolescent girls’ psychological outcomes: The role of basic psychological need satisfaction. Journal of adolescence, 68, 32-39.
Fear of the LORD is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. Proverbs 1:7 (NLT)
Is it possible that a parent’s perception of God as a Father impacts the parent-child relationship? Yes. If our relationship with God is fear-of-discipline based instead of love-based, it will reflect in our parenting approach. In this case, I refer to the fear of consequences or being punished. If we obey God out of love and reverent fear, it would most likely impact our parenting goals.
“If you love me, obey my commandments. John 14:15 (NLT)
Would you like to become a member of God’s family? Please say the prayer below and let me know about it here.
Say this: Heavenly Father,
I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe you exist and you sent Jesus to die for me. I receive your love and forgiveness. Reveal yourself to me. I accept Jesus as my Lord and Savior. Amen
Welcome to God’s family!
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thank you for this. I was not familiar with this passage in Numbers.
Thank you for reading 💕
God’s Word is filled with treasures!
it certainly is – like diamonds – even those we know have new facets each viewing!