Here’s a summary of some of the thoughts from a recent Fathers Forum event in Dallas where Punky Tolson spoke to Abiding Fathers’ followers.

The fact that I have so many memories of my dad that are so clear and so vivid and to this day can still invoke so much emotion is nothing short of a miracle. They were huge memories that he impressed on my life and are indelible to this day. Some right, some wrong, some good, some not so good, but I’ve learned from every single one of the things that my dad showed me, even the things that were not so good.

They are indelibly marked on my mind and my heart and my life. They have marked my life in such a way that they have shaped and molded me into the person I am today. Spending time with my daddy, making these memories, is what made me who I am today. Think about your family of origin and even close friends and how you have been marked by them. Sometimes a memory becoming a good or bad memory is simply on what perspective you take; how you filter it. I was diagnosed with cancer 8 years ago. I remember thinking, ‘Wow, this is bad news’. News is really only bad or good, depending on how you filter it. And if God is good and only gives good gifts, then our way of looking at things needs to change.

My greatest memories of dad are from the simple everyday things. Whatever my dad did, I wanted to be a part of it. I thought everything he did was fascinating. I wanted to help him. Don’t kids always want to help? Daddy was always willing to let us help. He was so patient. ‘Daddy, can I help you mow the lawn?’ ‘Daddy, can I help you go to the store?’

What I was really asking was what every kid asks for. ‘Daddy, can I please just spend time with you?’ And, ‘Daddy, can you please show me how you do what you do?’.

Daddy never sat me down and read me the Bible; I have no memory of that. I have no memory of my daddy ever praying with me. He never told me that God was good all the time. I have very few memories of ever going to church. But he taught me and showed me more about the love of Jesus than anyone except my husband John.

Bookmark the Be The Dad Movement blog to hear more from Punky and other Be The Dad contributors.

About Punky Tolson:

Punky is a Bible teacher, writer, blogger, speaker and “disciple-maker”. She speaks locally and nationally at women’s conferences and events sharing her story of finding freedom and true satisfaction in Christ, marrying later in life, being a breast cancer survivor, living the life you were destined for, and more.

She is Co-founder of The Gathering of Women, an outreach and evangelistic Bible study in Dallas, Texas, and is a contributing writer for God Crazy Freedom, and writer her own blog, Making the Most of Now. Punky and her husband, Dr. John Tolson, are partners in a gospel-centered discipleship ministry known as The Tolson Group, located in Dallas, Texas.

Roy was very athletic and as a father, he wanted his boys to follow in his footsteps. ‘You’re either going into the military or going to play sports in college’. He thought his middle son was kind of weak. He thought he needed to be pushed into football and was frustrated at his lack of interest.

One day, Roy’s wife told him to read Proverbs 22. He learned that he was supposed to train up his child in the Lord and the way that he should go, not in the way that Roy wanted him to go. Once he grasped that, he started paying attention to his son and his interests. His son turned out to be an artist and into MMA (Mixed Martial Arts). Roy learned to listen, love, and learn.

Listen to Ron and how his heart changed.

As you reflect on Ron’s story, what do you think? We’d like to hear your thoughts. Leave a comment below and share with a friend.