I (Franz) am sitting at the table with our family and have prepared a little family meeting. It takes some effort because I want to apologize. It’s so important, especially as a father and the “head of the family.”
“Kids, I’ve been realizing during my Abiding Father training that I often don’t really listen very well. How would you rate me on a scale from A to F?” “Maybe a C…”
I summarize: “When you tell me about conflicts, I usually want to offer solutions right away instead of just listening to you. I’m sorry about that.” My youngest daughter, Nele, stands up, comes over to me, hugs me, and says:
“Dad, you’re getting better at this all the time. I love you sooooo much!”
A moment full of honesty, grace, and growing together. This is exactly what God invites us to do again and again—not to be perfect, but to be authentic.
Amazing Grace…
It is a privilege and a great joy to learn together regularly with five other men from Europe in the Abiding Father program. We are able to continue growing in our identity as beloved sons of God and are encouraged to live out our calling as present fathers after God’s own heart in our families. We long to sow deep roots of identity, hope, and faith in our children so that they may be strengthened for life.
I’m excited to see what God still has in store for us here. 
“Dad, you’re getting better at this all the time…” 