What does it look like to guide a child from complete dependence into a life of responsibility, adulthood, and apprenticeship with Jesus?
In this episode, Ben continues the series on transition by asking his dad, Aric, to reflect on the different stages of fatherhood.
Together, they explore a four phase model for an intentional parenting journey: belovedness, learning, responsibility, and adulthood—and how a parent’s role must change as a son or daughter grows.
But this is not a rigid formula or a prescription for perfect parenting. Aric shares honestly about the pressure parents feel to get everything right, the ways even good intentions can wound our children, and a pivotal moment when twelve-year-old Ben helped him see that his attempts to encourage growth were making Ben feel as though something was always wrong with him.
Their conversation becomes an invitation to release shame, receive God’s fathering, and trust that pain and failure do not have to be the end of the story. Through humility, repentance, healing, and relationship, even our deepest parenting regrets can become places of redemption.
The episode concludes with Aric reflecting on the bittersweet transition ahead as his youngest son approaches adulthood—and on the sacred calling of every parent to lovingly work themselves out of a job, entrusting their children back to God.
Learn more about The Intentional Dad at www.theintentionaldad.org.
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