Raising Girls

A father plays a unique and critically important role in the raising of girls. The higher level of involvement a father has in his children’s lives, doing things like eating meals together, taking vacation together, helping with schoolwork, taking them on outings results in fewer be?havioral issues in girls. Even more importantly, the relationship that a girl has with her father will impact the future relationship or relationships that a woman has with men. In fact, her father is a mirror to how she will see herself. The way that a father interacts with his daughter will be precisely how she perceives her own value. If a father rejects a daughter, she will spend the rest of her life trying to replace him. If her dad is nurturing and encouraging to her then she will look for a husband that is equal to that. If dad thinks she is beautiful, godly and feminine then she will see herself that way as well.

Gary Thomas of Sacred Parenting writes, “When my daughters were growing up, I tried… to set the bar as high as possible – I wanted to affirm them, encourage them and even spoil them a little, so that a guy would have to do the same to attract her as a potential mate. If a guy ever got rough with them, or put them down, they’d think, That’s not how healthy men treat women.”

The way you treat your daughter will impact how she sees God, men and herself.

Dad’s, you must never under any circumstances call your daughter fat. Your expressions to her must always be positive with love and acceptance. I beg you to affirm them constantly. You be the mirror that she sees herself as beautiful in. Even more than that, affirm her character and make that be the most important thing.

“And, she… I don’t care whether she’s pretty or not. You better look at her character, whether she’s pretty or not pretty.” [1]

“The beauty of the church is the character of the people. I trust it’ll always be a house of God, of beauty.” [2]

We know the woman is the type of the church. Therefore, the true feminine beauty is in character not being physically attractive. As dads let’s emphasize the importance of godly char?acter in our daughters and at the same time affirm their physical beauty no matter their shape, size or appearance.

Take your wife on dates, but also take your daughters on one-on-one dates. Talk to them about the Message; talk to them about what they like to do; talk to them about whatever they want to talk about; listen to, and affirm them.

It is critical for mothers to be involved with their daughters as well. Mothers provide the living example of what it means to be a woman in caring for the home, caring for your husband, how to interact with children and even what it means to walk with God. Mom puts the flesh on womanhood for her daughters. In the parental relationship, mom will sometimes become the frustrating one for a daughter. This time will take patience and lots and lots of forgiveness. Be firm, discipline them age appropriately and lavish love upon them. Remember, even in those times you are setting an example for her future.

Being a parent is not about winning a popularity contest. If you try to go about parenting that way you will lose the respect of your children. They need rules and boundaries that are en?forced consistently. They will get frustrated with you when you enforce them. Always remind your children that you do not have a choice in the matter. God has ordained you to raise them up and that he that will not discipline his children hates them. Discipline is given in love to produce a godly child but knowing that your teaching and discipline must be quickened by the power of the Holy Ghost. Without the new birth your child is just a really nice kid who is dead in sin and trespasses. For the raising up of our children it takes the Holy Ghost to quicken everything in their hearts and minds to life. ?

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[1] 65-0429E, The Choosing Of A Bride”, Rev. William Marrion Branham

[2] 63-0317M , God Hiding Himself In Simplicity, Then Revealing Himself In The Same, Rev. William Marrion Branham