Thinking about Family

Hard to believe that Megan is pregnant in this picture, isn't it? She is now in her 39th week of carrying our baby boy. So I understand why she's getting tired a little more quickly these days.

Seeing my baby boy's face on an ultrasound this morning has caused me to think about how my family will change over the next few weeks. It also has me thinking about my role as Meg's husband and our kids' father.

I need help. Being a husband and father is more demanding than I once imagined it to be. Here is a list of things that are helping me as I'm working to grow as a husband and father:

1. The Holy Spirit and the Bible, especially when then Holy Spirit reminds me of passages like Deuteronomy 6:4-7 and enables me to apply them to my life: "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise."
2. Good examples to follow, like my dad, John Kelly, and my father-in-law, Gene Sherrill. These two men have impacted me more than any others through their faithful marriages, strong parenting, and loving grand-parenting.
   
3. Other godly men that God has brought into my life through the church, men like Larry, John, Randy, Bruce, Travis, Glen and so many others. I need these guys a lot. Thank God for Christian community.
   
4. Good teachers like Wayne Grudem, John Piper, Andreas Kostenberger, Bruce Ware, Andrew Nichols, Dennis Rainey, and many others.
5. Megan, Anna & Sophie (pictured with me above!): My girls make it easier for me to grow as a husband and father as they forgive my sins and love me so well. The grace of God that I experience in my own home through these three is so good for me. It makes me want to be a much better husband and father.
   

What helps you be a better spouse and parent? I'm always looking for more ideas. Like I wrote above: I need help! Post a comment and let me know what helps you become a better spouse and/or a better parent.