Epic fail. That’s what it felt like.

My son, Bryce came home from Kindergarten and announced, “Dad, you forgot to put a snack in my back pack today.”

I admit I’m prone to overthink certain things. But all I could see in my mind’s eye was my son sitting alone at snack time with nothing to eat while all of the other kindergartners were saying, “At least our parents LOVE us!”

Turns out, the teacher keeps extra snacks on hand. And, to my chagrin, Bryce said he likes Mrs. Turner’s snacks better. Ouch.

Still, it was the principle of the matter that really bothered me. My son depended upon me for something and I let him down. Sure, it wasn’t a major problem that day, but what about when he depends upon me for something more substantial.

You live all your life training to be a parent. And then, when the time comes, you are expected to provide certain things.

It’s a lot like apple trees. Did you know that it takes 5-8 years for an apple tree to bear fruit? During those 5-8 years, the tree is preparing for its purpose –to produce apples. If 12 or 13 years go by without fruit, something is wrong.

Instead, when the tree reaches maturity, it should begin to bear fruit in season. In other words, a mature tree is dependable for bearing fruit.

That’s exactly how Psalm 1:3 describes matures believers: “He is like a tree… 
that yields its fruit in its season…”

Forgetting to pack my son’s fruit snacks is not the real issue of my concern. My real desire is to dependably bear spiritual fruit before my son.

Mrs. Turner is well equipped to compensate for forgotten snacks, but she cannot replace my parental responsibility to:

  • Bear the fruit of integrity within our home
  • Bear the fruit of faithful leadership in our family
  • Bear the fruit of a Christ-like father to my child

According to the psalmist, the only way that I can bear that fruit is by:

Walk[ing] not in the counsel of the wicked, 
nor stand[ing] in the way of sinners,
 nor sit[ting] in the seat of scoffers;

but [placing my] delight is in the law of the Lord,
    and on his law… meditate[ing] day and night (Psalm 1:1-2).