Part 2 of Quiet Sins Dads Face
You can be a good man and still be emotionally unavailable. I know because for years I equated love with provision and presence with proximity. I was in the house. I showed up. But emotionally, I often stayed guarded, distracted, or exhausted. And I didn’t realize how much that absence communicated.
Scripture paints a fuller picture of love. Romans 12:15 calls us to “rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.” That kind of connection requires vulnerability and attention. Our kids don’t just need rules and routines – they need emotional safety. Ephesians 6:4 reminds fathers not to provoke their children, but to bring them up in the Lord. You can’t shepherd hearts you never engage.
Jesus modeled emotional presence perfectly. Mark 6:34 says He had compassion on the crowd because they were like sheep without a shepherd. That compassion wasn’t distant or theoretical – it was near. Being emotionally present doesn’t mean being overly expressive or perfect with words. It means being willing to listen, to sit in discomfort, and to stay.
Emotional presence is learned, not innate. You don’t have to become someone you’re not – you just have to become more available. Even small moments of connection can build deep trust over time.
Reflection Question:
When was the last time you truly listened to your child or spouse without trying to fix or escape the moment?
Dadvotionals 