"The question is not how smart are you, rather it is how are you smart?" Jim Kwik. For too long, we’ve been trapped in the narrow thinking that kids are either “smart” or “not smart”, based on limited measures like test scores. But what if I told you that every child is already smart? It’s just a matter of figuring out how they are smart.

Think about the scriptures in Genesis 1:27, where it says: “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” It means that every child is a reflection of the divine creator. It means every one of them is already wired for wonders.

The foundation we lay for our children as fathers is crucial for their success. Success isn’t just about climbing the corporate ladder, excelling in education, sports, entertainment or accumulating wealth, it’s about raising children who are grounded, resilient, and equipped to live fulfilling lives in service of God and others. Children who have a rich relationship with God.

And let’s be honest, as fathers, the challenge of that responsibility can sometimes feel overwhelming.

So, how do we build this foundation? We’re going to draw from several sources in this episode to explore this idea: the timeless wisdom of the Bible, the insights of modern science, the powerful and challenging voice of Voddie Baucham, and the compassionate perspective of Dr. Gabor Maté.

What does is mean to have raised our children successfully as fathers? If our children have grown up to have good jobs, successful businesses, excelled in sports or in the world of entertainment, is that success? The chief role that God has given us as fathers is to raise godly children (Malachi 2:15), or to raise them up to have a rich relationship with God. This is in keeping with what Jesus said "what good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self?"

Our minds are like a garden, it takes cultivation to come up with a beautiful garden and to maintain it. Without careful attention to the garden, weeds easily sprout and overrun the good grass, flowers or plants. Weeds don’t seem to need any encouragement to grow, they tend to just grow so easily. Good thoughts take concerted effort to build and maintain, however, if we neglect our garden (mind), then the weeds, or bad thoughts quickly sprout and take over.

One of the key roles of a father in the family is that of a provider. What naturally comes to mind when that word is said is financial provision. However, I think this role is much larger than just financial provision. Certainly financial provision is a crucial part of it. However, it is good to explore the other components of being a provider.

We often hear about the hormonal shifts that women go through during pregnancy and childbirth, but have you ever thought about how fathers are also affected? It might surprise you to learn that dads experience hormonal changes too! Research shows that during their partner’s pregnancy and the first few months after their child is born, fathers see fluctuations in hormones like testosterone, cortisol, and prolactin—just to name a few. These changes help get them ready for their important role in parenting.

Dads play a vital part in raising children, and there are many hormonal and physiological factors that support them as they step into their parenting roles. While we’ve seen plenty of studies focusing on moms and their hormonal changes, research into fathers has been gaining traction recently. We’ll dive into some fascinating insights from two articles published in PubMed, along with anecdotes from Jennifer L. Verdolin’s book, *Raised by Animals*.

In this episode, we explore the impact of a father treating the mother of his children well. We discuss how this sets a positive example for kids, improves their emotional well-being, and strengthens family bonds.

We will highlight some reasons why this is crucial and beneficial to the children, we will showcase some examples in the Bible and see a father or a creature in the wild that shows this character.

The animal kingdom provides us with many examples of fathers who exhibit qualities that match the fatherly attributes of God found in the Bible. As we observe these animal fathers, we are reminded of the love and care of our Heavenly Father, who watches over us and guides us through all of life's challenges and experiences.

In this episode, we will explore the fatherly attributes of God that are portrayed by animal fathers. Today, we will be discussing 15 fatherly attributes of God that are reflected in the behavior of animal fathers.