[261 words]
Empathy is the ability to feel for others. It’s what makes us care about each other as people and forms the roots of compassion and love. In a world that struggles with bullying, anger, and coldness, you could imagine why people want to know how to build it.
Richard Koestner, a psychologist at McGill University was attempting to do just that. He looked and found a study that had been conducted at Yale University back in the 1950s. It involved 75 men and women who had been part of a study when they were children.
When Koestner and his colleagues examined all the factors in the children’s lives that might have affected how empathetic they became as adults, one factor dwarfed all others—how much time their fathers spent with them. They were expecting other factors, such as how affectionate parents were with their children, would be the key factor. In reality, it made no difference.
Just spending time with Dad did.
Fathers play a vital role in their lives of their kids. Many of the issues our world faces today are directly related to the lack fathers have in the lives of their children. Fathers are to be examples of discipline (Hebrews 12:9) and spiritual instruction (Ephesians 6:4) to their offspring. Fathers can’t do it if they are not around.
If we what to have quality children it starts with quality time with them. You can’t have quality time without quantity time.
If you want kids to care, you need to show your kids how much you do.
Barry Haynes
Hope church of Christ
Hope, AR