Dr. Norm Wakefield: "The Joyful Dad"

Making Memories

What’s one thing you remember about your father from your childhood days? I asked several people at random. Here’s what they had to say:

– We went walking on a Sunday afternoon. It was really pretty, and I was so tired that he put me on his shoulders. I covered his eyes, so we kept on bumping into things! But it was just the two of us, taking time out together. I’ll always remember that.”—twenty-year-old woman from England

– One thing I remember about my dad was that he was always working. I hardly got to see him when I was younger because he was always working. I guess it paid off. We have a lot of stuff.”—twenty-one-year-old man from California

– He always pushed me in my sports.”—nineteen-year-old woman from Michigan

– I remember we’d go to amusement parks and I was too short for the rides, but he wanted me to be able to enjoy the ride. He’d pick up my shoulders and pull up my hair and do whatever he could to get it above the line. That’s what I remember about my dad.--Thirty-three-year-old man from Arizona

– The very first thing I remember about my dad is that he wasn’t there a lot. My parents weren’t divorced or anything, but he was a fireman and had to work a number of jobs to support our family. I think he missed us.”—twenty-year-old woman from Colorado

– I remember sneaking out of our bedroom with my brothers and sisters. We could see Daddy watching TV, but he was always very focused on TV so he’d never see us.”—twenty-four-year-old woman from California

– We’d always wrestle around on the couch after dinner. Me and my brothers always goof off and wrestle around. We’d all end up laughing! We were laughing a lot. I remember my dad was a happy guy.”—eighteen-year-old man from California

Memories like these become the foundation for the legacy your children inherit from you, and the impression points by which your children form their view of God, our heavenly Father. If your children remember that you were never available to them, your legacy is abandonment (whether you live with your kids or not). If your children remember you as someone who constantly criticized, your legacy will be dissatisfaction.

Imagine how your daughter’s life will be different if, instead of remembering a frown on dad’s face, she sees your smile. Think what changes might occur if your son remembers, not the hours you put in at the office, but the hours you spent playing with him.

By creating happy memories for your children, you create a legacy of joy to pass on from generation to generation. That’s exactly what your heavenly Father—and your children—want.    

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Dr. Norm Wakefield is a popular author, speaker, seminary professor, and joyful dad to five happy, adult children. A few of his sought-after books are Legacy of Joy (written with his son-in-law), Men are from Israel, Women are from Moab(written with his daughter), and The Dad Difference (written with Josh McDowell).

"No soul that seriously and constantly desires joy will ever miss it."

—C. S. Lewis (The Great Divorce)