Touches

In basketball and football games the outcome is often determined by the number of “touches” the key players have in a game. The amount of times that player actually touches the ball in a offensive or defensive situation is crucial to how their team will perform. Listen to almost any coach during an interview and they will talk about getting key players more touches and how it increases the opportunity their team has to win.

During one of my years away at college, my dorm mate and I played on an intramural basketball team. We were a horrible excuse for a basketball team, most of our team members never played the sport before and it showed. They couldn’t shoot, rebound or dribble…well some could dribble but that was without a basketball and another story all together. It came down to the last game of the season and our coach wanted the taste of victory in the worst way. So he changed his game plan and asked his two best players to take control of the game. What he meant was for Al and myself to take every shot possible, grab as many rebounds as we could and control the ball as long as we could. Surprisingly, this strategy almost worked, Al and I scored in double figures and we nearly beat a superior team. I say “superior” only because they had more guys that could run and dribble at the same time! However, our chances for victory were increased by the number of “touches” by the team’s best players.

Fathers are key player providers, we need to have significant “touches” in the lives of our children. It all involves studying our children, setting up the “plays” for them to have success in all they’re learning. Hear are five areas of needed touches to give to our key players:

· Mental Touches
These let our kids know we are thinking of them. By leaving love notes or calling them from work. Try buying a small gift and surprising them with it. Gifts don't need to be costly, but they need to be given out of love and not a substitute for it. Spend some time with them in areas of interest to them.

· Physical Touches
Hugs and kisses are the most common way to express this, but there are other ways too. Good natured wrestling on the floor or reading a story with a lap full of children.

· Verbal Touches
Telling our kids we love them, appreciate them and approve of them. These words of affirmation fall into two groups: words of appreciation and words of praise and encouragement. Words of appreciation support our children for who they are. Words of praise and encouragement support their efforts.

· Spiritual Touches
Nurturing the spiritual life of our children, by praying for them, teaching and training them in the Word. Most of all, by our own example of a Godly walk, show them how to integrate faith in God with everyday life.

· Emotional Touches
Caring for the emotional needs of our kids, giving them a safe place to discover their strengths and weaknesses. A haven for them to share thoughts and opinions that may be different from ours.

Just a few ideas, I hope they help and encourage you in this grand adventure of fathering.

Blessings,
Jay

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© 2008 Jay Cookingham - All rights reserved.
Jay Cookingham recently published two articles for the God's Way series. You can visit his home page at http://Jaycookingham.com

This column is used with permission.