This Devoted Life
What started as a Saturday morning coffee date turned into a podcast where we discuss our faith, family, finances and so much more!
In a world that is encouraging you to “live your truth” and to “follow your heart,” we want to encourage you to live Devoted to THE Truth. The Bible has a lot to say about how to live a victorious Christian life, and we want to share practical insight in how to apply those truths to your life as we endeavor to apply them to our own lives as well.
We are passionate about building and growing the nuclear family, as well as sharing our expertise and experience with finances, homeschooling, and over 70 years of combined biblical knowledge.
Join us as we live… This Devoted Life!
James and Shanda
This Devoted Life
38. Strong Fathers Create Stronger Families: A Father's Day Reflection
The statistics are staggering: one in four American children grow up without a father figure, leading to profound consequences in education, poverty rates, and even incarceration. But behind these numbers lies a deeper truth about God's design for fatherhood that our culture often overlooks or undermines.
In this Father's Day special, we unpack the biblical blueprint for fatherhood that stands in stark contrast to popular media portrayals of dads as incompetent bumblers. Drawing from scripture and practical experience, we explore how fathers are called to be spiritual leaders, loving providers, and models of Christ's love within their families. The impact of a present, engaged father reverberates through generations – not just in avoiding negative outcomes, but in actively nurturing children who thrive.
What does it mean to discipline with grace? How can fathers model humility and repentance? We discuss practical ways fathers can connect spiritually with their children through consistent, authentic moments – whether singing praise songs together, praying as a family, or simply showing up day after day. These seemingly small actions create the foundation upon which children build their understanding of both earthly and heavenly fatherhood.
For mothers listening, we offer encouragement on supporting and uplifting the fathers in your children's lives. And for those without fathers or whose fathers were absent, we acknowledge your experience while pointing to how our Heavenly Father can fill those gaps with His perfect love.
Whether you're a new dad, a seasoned father, or someone who influences children's lives, this episode offers both the encouragement and challenge to embrace the high calling of fatherhood. The good news? You don't have to be perfect – you simply need to be present, intentional, and faithful.
Listen now to discover why strong fathers create stronger families, and how you can make a difference that lasts for generations.
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What started as a Saturday morning coffee date turned into a podcast where we chat about things like faith, family finances and so much more.
Speaker 2:In a world that is encouraging you to live your truth and to follow your heart. We want to encourage you to live devoted to the truth.
Speaker 1:The Bible has a lot to say about how to live a victorious Christian life, and we want to share practical insight in how to apply those truths to your life, as we endeavor to apply them to our own lives as well.
Speaker 2:If you enjoy this podcast, please leave us a review and share these episodes with your friends so that you can help them live this devoted life too. Welcome to another episode of this Devoted Life podcast. Today we are giving a special shout out to all the fathers out there as we dive into the topic of fatherhood. So happy Father's Day, babe.
Speaker 1:Yeah, thank you Appreciate it, Looking forward to it.
Speaker 2:Yeah, we are really excited. Today we're going to try to dive into the topic of fatherhood from a biblical perspective and just what does it mean to be a godly father. We're going to look at the way culture views fatherhood and just the benefits of having fathers in the lives of their children, and the detriments that can be when fathers are not present as well. So I know that many of you out there, this may bring mixed emotions for you, whether you have a really wonderful father, or maybe you are someone who had a father who was absent in your life, or maybe your father has passed away. We want to acknowledge that there are many different feelings that surround Father's Day, and so we hope that this episode is a blessing to you, whether or no, matter where you're at when it comes to this.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, and even maybe some widows that maybe have lost their husband or you know different situations. Like we said, this should be good for really anyone in any situation and also kind of just really think we just assume that it's women listening. I think that's by far the biggest audience out there, but feel free to share it with your husbands, and maybe your fathers as well, and just encourage them to continue living a godly life and be good leaders.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I've actually received messages from different women who said oh, I loved this episode, I shared it with my husband. We listened to it together. So, hopefully this is one of those episodes where you sit down together and you listen to the episode, because we just want it to be an encouragement to you that if you are doing what is right to continue doing and being a good godly father, or if there's some areas for growth, we hope that there is an encouragement in that as well.
Speaker 1:Absolutely yeah.
Speaker 2:All right, so we're going to kind of dive into the topic of fatherhood, but we want to start with, like, how does culture view fatherhood? Because I mean, if you look at just the way that TV shows and movies portray, fathers they're kind of just the stupid man. They're usually like the buffoon, the woman is always right and I feel like there's like this, almost like men are made to be a laughingstock, especially when it comes to dads, yeah, I think we've touched on this before, but it is very frustrating that they are.
Speaker 1:They're kind of just the laughingstock of the family or you know, just I don't know. It gets really frustrating and I'll be honest, I mean we don't really watch much you know TV with commercials and stuff.
Speaker 1:So you know, I can't imagine it's gotten any better since what I remember. But yeah, I mean, men should be men and not that you have to put on this persona or whatever. But you know, god has called us to be leaders and called us to try our best and work hard. And you know, again, I don't want to stereotype, but I think you know our heart and the intent on what we're saying and you know, if you are, you know, a wife out there, if you, you know, if you find yourself putting down your husband in front of your friends or in front of your children or really anyone, you know, really I would say, kind of check yourself and try not to Try to be an encouragement.
Speaker 1:I mean, you might be putting your husband down to his face, you know, and I know, um, you know, or I? I guess I should say I can't imagine how that would make me feel if I'm just being berated, and that's not to say you know we shouldn't get instruction from our wives. I mean, I absolutely ask you all the time, you know, for your advice, things like that, Um and so, and and I also ask you if you see I'm failing in some area or whatever. Please, you know, but do it tactfully, do it in a constructive way. All those things, yeah, so not to get off on my soapbox there, but yes, I think that all feeds into each other with you know. Just, I don't know like there, like you said, the perception out there can be very negative.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you know being on social media a lot more. I see that in a lot of like Instagram posts or just the husband being put down and made to look a little bit like he like kind of like he's stupid. I don't know any other way to put it, but we all are flawed, and so I couldn't imagine if you were to start putting me down for my flaws, because we all have things that we probably could put each other down for?
Speaker 1:Oh, absolutely, yeah, like I said, no one's perfect.
Speaker 2:Exactly so.
Speaker 1:It's not like you're saying like, oh, you can't see the negative things in your spouse, but what we're saying is is to call up the good things in your spouse and to encourage them to continue to do those things, yeah, and if you want your spouse to be better or do better or, you know, make improvements, I don't think the best way is to just cut them down and be negative, right. You know, I mean that would. I don't think there's any business books or self-help books out there that would encourage you just to berate someone in an attempt to make them better Right.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I mean, it does seem like today, in our culture, men are, they're deemed unnecessary. They're put down. Our culture is trying to. I almost want to, I don't even almost. I am going to say that we are trying to feminize men and we're trying to make them be more like a woman, and that's not the biblical role of a man.
Speaker 2:You have very distinct qualities that you are called to do as a man and we're going to dive into those in this episode, and those are good and godly things and they're not things that we should be like. Oh, it's toxic masculinity for you to want to protect and to love, but there's a godly way to do those things.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah Again, there are definitely negatives and people can take things too far, but, like I said, I think you know our heart and the intent behind our words.
Speaker 2:There's some really interesting statistics that I'm going to read about fatherlessness, specifically in the US. One in four children in the US live without a biological step or adoptive father in the home. That's over 18 million children, which is a staggering number that reflects our national crisis of father absence.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, and again, I, you know I, I will feel terrible, you know, for anyone listening to this if you, you know again, are in that situation and you know whether it was through anything you did or didn't do you know? I mean, we're not judging or criticizing, but we are calling out the importance of a father and, you know, at least a male role model in your children's lives.
Speaker 2:And before we go even further. Just, we have a father, just know that your heavenly father can cover all of the absence of that, but there are some very real effects of fatherlessness for children. So, like James said, like, try to find a male role model, you know, just a man who you can trust to, to disciple your, your children.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah. And again, we don't want to pile on, you know, with this, with these statistics, but, um, you know, this is very serious. I mean there's some, some weight here, and so it just don't let it uh, you know, drag you down, um, but let it reinforce that. Hey, this is important. This is something I need to be intentional with.
Speaker 2:I mean it says that children without fathers are two times more likely to drop out of school. It also says that fatherless children are more likely to suffer from anxiety and depression four times more likely to live in poverty and seven times more likely to become pregnant as teenagers.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I've actually heard that stat throughout the years many times about the teen pregnancies and it's really. Fascinating is the wrong word, but you know, I mean it's really struck me every time I've heard it how that can be such a differentiator.
Speaker 2:Well, with three daughters, that's a staggering weight.
Speaker 1:It is yeah year, so that we can just really instill in them the importance of purity and just setting up themselves for a wonderful life ahead.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, the statistic that I actually found that was kind of staggering to me was 85% of youth that are in prison grew up in a fatherless home. 85%, so that's from the Texas Department of Corrections. Wow, and that just goes to show, like how needed fathers are if 85% of the children who you know are in prison right now, or youth you know.
Speaker 1:I mean, it is mind blowing, it really is.
Speaker 2:Yep. And then also, identity is a huge thing for children who don't have fathers. They have a weakened sense of identity, confidence and boundaries. Boys especially are more likely to model destructive male behavior without a positive father figure in their life.
Speaker 1:Yeah, no, it's. And even if the father is just absent, you know, or you know we're talking about. You know so many different scenarios here. There's tons of variables. But you know, if you are a father listening to this and you have children, you know. Again, let these statistics sink in and you might say, well, yeah, my children have a father, but if you're not actually fathering you can, you know your children can lose their way as well.
Speaker 2:So you can physically be a father, but you could be emotionally unpresent.
Speaker 1:Yeah, exactly and unattached, so yeah.
Speaker 2:I think the power of like knowing these statistics is knowing what the antithesis is to it there's actually like a positive side. So, for the opposite of all of the negative things that we just said, for those fathers who are present in their children's life, it's just a hundredfold better for them. Yes, yeah.
Speaker 1:Like literally, you know it's only 15% likely that you know your children will end up in prison. You know I mean, yeah, but put the positive spin on all of it and um and again it. It's not like you have to be on point every minute of every day you know what I mean. Yes, Yep, show up, be present, be intentional and try, you know?
Speaker 1:I mean, I think you know we talk about this a lot where we're like are we failing in this area or are we doing this, or you know, right or wrong or whatever, and it's a challenge right to know. But you know, a lot of times I'll say I think the fact that we're literally talking about this right now, you know we're already in a good place. We're trying to work on that last 20 percent, not the first 80. And again, we're far from perfect. But you know, I think just having these conversations with your spouse and trying that gets you most of the way there.
Speaker 2:Yeah, absolutely. I mean God's plan for fathers. I mean it just shows with those statistics, just like, how good his plan is. You know, Micah 4, 6 says and he shall turn the hearts of the, or heart of the fathers to the children God has. God wants the hearts of the father to be turned towards their children, because that is his good design.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, and I think that's really the thread and foundation that you know really, cultures and countries were built upon you know, and again, with strong, good leaders, and you know, male father figures in particular that we're talking about right now, man so much can be accomplished. It's really powerful that we're talking about right now, man, so much can be accomplished. It's really powerful.
Speaker 2:Yeah, let's look at like what is kind of a biblical quote unquote blueprint for fatherhood. I think the first and foremost is being a spiritual leader, fathers are called to teach God's word diligently. You know, I think of the Shema of Deuteronomy 6,. You know, o Israel, the Lord, our God, the Lord is one. You shall teach them diligently to your children you know, and it's just, we have been called as parents, but particularly fathers, to disciple our children.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, like in our situation, with you homeschooling and being a stay-at-home mom, you get a lot more time with our children.
Speaker 1:And I'm very thankful how much effort you put into their spiritual lives as well. My, you know the number of minutes and hours of impact that I have. You know it pales in comparison to what you have, but that doesn't mean that I can just let you take the reins in their spiritual life, and in all areas really. So I can't. I have to be a male figure and a spiritual leader in our home, or else then they'll just say, you know, like, especially you know, our sons will you know they might say, well, that's just for mom, or that's just for whatever, and or that must not be important to dad, and um, you know, really that's something that I, you know, continue to try. You know you, actually I actually have to put more effort into, um, you know, not more effort than you, but um, I can't, just yes, I can't just assume that you're checking that box.
Speaker 2:No, I appreciate like even tonight, before we came down to record this podcast, you were like, hey, kids, everyone come to the living room. You grabbed your guitar, you're like we're going to sing some praise songs and we're going to pray together as a family and that just was like an intentional time that you took out of our day. I mean, it was a matter of you know, maybe 10 minutes total, but it just shows that we take time to stop and to praise the Lord and to pray and to just spend some time as a family in corporate worship.
Speaker 1:Yes, yeah, exactly yeah, it doesn't take hours. You know, I mean no one really, I mean if it, if it, if it needs to be hours, if your family or your child is in a state you know where you need to like, all right, we need to prioritize, then obviously do it. But if you just, like you said earlier, just be consistent, show up. That gets you most of the way there.
Speaker 2:Yeah, the one thing I was actually thinking tonight while we were singing was our kids will remember these moments, and it's not because you're like, okay, every Thursday night at this time we're going to sing and praise the Lord, but you have been so consistent with it over the years.
Speaker 2:I mean it might be a couple of weeks between times of doing it but to them they're still going to have those memories of you playing the guitar, us singing as a family and praising the Lord together, and so that was just something that kind of stuck out to me tonight was I just was thinking these moments they don't have to be like um, where it has to be set in stone, like at this time, every single time, but it's just these little drops of water that eventually build up into a filling.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and I think um not that traditions are bad by any stretch or anything like that, but if it is just kind of. I mean I don't know if organic is the right word, but just you know, it's just, it's this thread woven in our lives.
Speaker 1:It just it's very sincere and real and raw. And yeah, like you said, they, yeah, they love it when I get my guitar out and they go looking for the spoons or whatever and they want to. You know, keep beating. We legit have like wooden spoons that would like kind of like tap like yeah, so the kids always go and grab those.
Speaker 2:but they couldn't find it tonight, so they had cups out and they were playing like drums on the floor.
Speaker 1:It was super cute Kind of dancing around and yeah, these are special times, they really are. I'm very thankful for them.
Speaker 2:Yeah, all right.
Speaker 1:So the next, you know biblical, I'm just going to call it blueprint 1 Timothy 5, 8, but if any provide, not for his own, he hath denied the faith. You know a dad, husband you are supposed to be.
Speaker 1:Whenever I hear the word provider, I think of the physical provisions that you know okay, earn the money, you know, bring home the bread. You know that type of thing. You know that being with a provider. But I need to also be a spiritual provider and to once again create that framework and that foundation that hopefully our children will carry on for the rest of their lives and for future generations to come.
Speaker 2:It's not only like a physical stability, but it's an emotional stability. It's a spiritual stability, knowing that you are there providing for those needs.
Speaker 1:Absolutely.
Speaker 2:Ephesians 5.25 also calls you to be a loving husband. It says husbands love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church. And we put that in there because the way that you treat me shows our children how God loves the church, like it's a physical representation to them of our loving heavenly Father.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, and I mean obviously, anything that I can do or we can do as fathers, you know, pales in comparison to how Christ loved the church, but if that's something that we aspire to, we're probably going to be doing a pretty good job, you know, and uh, yeah, so I mean, you know it's uh, I think, as men, you know, we want to love our wives and we want to, you know, have that affection that you know.
Speaker 1:Um, you know, I know it can be controversial at times or whatever, but Ephesians five says you know love, you know in respect, and it that's what the Bible says. So we have to teach it and preach it. And yeah, so I want to be a loving husband and father. Sometimes I am not as loving as others, but, yeah, I think it's just when you're all pulling in the same direction and kind of like going back to what we said earlier.
Speaker 1:You know, if your wife or you as a wife are, you know, being respectful and wanting to be an encouragement, it definitely makes it a lot easier to love you you know, and it's just a. It's a great two-way street and you know again, we're, if, if you give a hundred percent, are each giving a hundred percent, then you know it really. It's not just a 50-50 thing.
Speaker 2:I also think about all the times that I am unlovable, you know there are so many times like, but the way that you love me through, especially those circumstances when I am being kind of unlovable you know whether it's just emotionally, or maybe I'm being kind of nasty you know.
Speaker 2:I think that is even a more powerful illustration of Christ's love for us you know that he, even when we were kind of unlovable, he still came to this earth, died for us and showed the ultimate sacrificial love and laid down his life for us, and so, as the husband, as the father, you have this really neat opportunity to show Christ's love um in the way that you treat you know me and the children, yeah, and you know, even to put some more teeth into it.
Speaker 1:It's not only an opportunity, but it's a responsibility you know so yeah, so we do have to rise to the occasion, and it is an unconditional love you know, I mean, it's like like you know whether either one of us are being unlovable, you know, I mean it's my, you know, but yeah, so that's that's where the grace and the patience and all the fruits of the spirit, you know, come into play. Right, it's?
Speaker 2:actually a really good segue into the next one, which is being disciplining in or with grace, and because all of those fruits of the spirit definitely have to you know feed into that.
Speaker 2:Proverbs 3, 12 says for whom the Lord loveth, he correcteth, even as a father correcteth his child. I probably didn't quote that last part of it Right, but it is loving to correct your children, but there is a godly way of doing it, because Ephesians 6, 4 also says that fathers should not provoke your children to wrath. And so you know, as a father, like it's your responsibility to discipline, to disciple our children.
Speaker 1:Yes, yeah, it is, and you know it can be tough at times. I mean, and you know it's easy to be I'll call it lazy, you know where you just want to be dismissive and just like I'll deal with it later or I don't want to deal with that or whatever but it's like all that does is it kind of reinforces those bad behaviors in your children or whatever the scenario is. So I encourage you to take the time and take the effort, make the effort to correct in love and in righteousness, because it'll make your future a lot easier and it'll make the future of your children a lot better. And again, there's a right and the wrong way to do everything, or maybe I should say a better or worse, you know, um. So I think, uh, you know there's definitely, um, you know obviously, scenarios that we can all think of in our mind.
Speaker 1:that's definitely wrong or not the right way to do things, but, um, yeah, there might be several, uh, better ways, and just you know, like I said, be intentional and pick one and do it because it'll be better for you and your children in the long run.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you mentioned the lazy parenting, but then there's also the one the father that is provoking his children because there's the constant harping too, and so that's.
Speaker 2:I mean we talk a lot about wisdom and asking God for wisdom and really parenting. I mean I mean that should be the thing that just like throws us on our knees and as we're begging God for wisdom because there are so many different situations we can't speak into all of them that the only thing that we can suggest doing is getting on your knees and just begging God for wisdom in whatever situation is going on, and taking our children to God in prayer.
Speaker 2:That's something that we've been talking about a lot in Sunday school lately is praying for our children and that is part of the discipleship of our children is praying for them and letting them know that we're praying for them and being specific in our prayers. I remember reading a book by Pastor Tice it was Raising God's Kids in Sin City and he talked about how he prayed very specifically for his children and then for his grandchildren that they would come to know the Lord as their Savior at a young age.
Speaker 2:And he was specific about that young age and he said God has answered that prayer for all of my children and, so far, his grandchildren as well. And I just remember thinking like I love that he is so confident in just taking his children to the Lord and asking specifically that they would know the Lord at a young age, that they wouldn't have to walk this hard path because they already were in the fold and knew the love of Christ. And yeah, I just I think that's neat.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it is Yep. I don't think I can add any more to that. That was good, all right.
Speaker 2:You also have an opportunity to be an example of humility and repentance. So, you know, we talked about, like, the harping on our children, or I mean, we've talked about too, how none of us are perfect. And it's an opportunity, as a father, for you to show humility and repentance.
Speaker 1:Absolutely yeah. And again, I think that's where maybe some of the true toxic masculinity comes in. You know, um, it is so like there's so many phrases and words that are, you know, for lack of a better phrase or word, you know, bastardized nowadays where it's like, you know, I mean you there truly is. I mean we're just taken for granted. That you know. Everyone obviously knows like not to be abusive, right, you know, and things like that, whether it's physical, verbal, um, you know all the other types that are, you know kind of just yeah, unimaginable, um, and so it's like obviously, don't you know?
Speaker 1:I think you know, like I said there, that there's certain words that have gravity, that are just kind of you know, they're thrown around so much nowadays that you know that kind of loses their you know, I, I guess the severity in my mind.
Speaker 1:But yeah just, we have so many different opportunities to do it right and to do it wrong and you know, I definitely think that we need to, you know, make sure we're on the straight and narrow and I think, you know, going back to that toxic masculinity, you know we don't have to be the tough guy or suck it up, you know, and whatever, because then you actually can. That can lead into more verbal abuse that you don't even realize. You know how your children are taking it and there's also a whole dynamic of knowing your children right.
Speaker 1:You know I mean because some children are really hardheaded and you know children right.
Speaker 1:You know I mean because some children are really hardheaded and you know, tough, right, and you do need to be, you know, maybe more direct at times with them, and then you might have children that are so tenderhearted and so loving and you know it's like you and it can be misconstrued, as you as well you're not being as tough. Your children might think you're not being as tough on this person or that other, but it's more effective to be kinder when you are disciplining some of your children, depending on what their emotional state is or how they respond to certain things.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and definitely what we model is what they're going to pick up Because.
Speaker 2:I remember, for our son, I, you know, would apologize to him if I ever said anything or was too harsh or whatever, and I always struggled because he never said I'm sorry back, you know, and it always bothered me and I just was like man, you know, I want him to get this, you know. And it always bothered me and I just was like man, you know, I want him to get this, you know. And then it was like two years ago, um, we had had a moment, and a few hours later I went to him and just said you know what, bud? I said I just want you to know like I truly am sorry, and he said, yeah, me too he said I'm really sorry, and ever since then he is now the one modeling the.
Speaker 2:I'm sorry as well, and it took years of me modeling that.
Speaker 1:Consistently modeling.
Speaker 2:that you know so it's just, I think, the way that we model, you know, repentance and humility. The kids eventually do pick that up.
Speaker 1:They do.
Speaker 2:Especially for the man because, like I think, like for our son, like he looks to you and he thinks you got to be a big, strong daddy. So when he hears you come with an. I'm sorry, I think, for our son. He looks to you and he thinks you've got to be a big strong daddy, so when he hears you, come with an I'm sorry.
Speaker 1:I think it holds even more weight than when I say it and it teaches him that a real man admits when he is wrong and humbles himself. Yes, totally agree.
Speaker 2:Yeah, well, I guess we're going to kind of wrap it up, but we just wanted this to be an encouragement to you fathers out there, that you don't have to be perfect. You're just called to be faithful, and these are some areas that you can be faithful in.
Speaker 1:Yes, yeah, just really encourage um the if, if you do have a husband and you know, or what, what that male, um father figure is in your children's lives, you know, be an encouragement, um, you know, be a reminder to them you know, um, in polite, fully and respectfully.
Speaker 1:You know, call, you know, give them a call to action, because if we need to be reminded to be the man that we need to be as fathers and as husbands, it's important, right? You know we gave all. You know not all, we gave some of the reasons why it is important. And so, you know, as a father and as a husband, I like to be reminded and encouraged to you know, stick with it and be consistent, because sometimes, you know, you can get distracted by things, right?
Speaker 1:You know so, yeah, so hopefully these were some good reminders, thoughts, calls to action that you can, you know, really put in that application quickly and soon, and this Father's Day is a good reminder to do it. Yeah.
Speaker 2:I was going to end with a quote from Billy Graham. It said A good father is one of the most unsung, unpraised, unnoticed and yet one of the most valuable assets in our society. And I just love that, because I really do think that that sums up you for our family.
Speaker 1:I appreciate that.
Speaker 2:I know that we probably don't give you as many accolades as you probably even deserve, but just know that we value you and we're very thankful for you this Father's Day.
Speaker 1:Thank you. I appreciate that All right.
Speaker 2:Well, happy Father's Day to all of you fathers out there, and we hope that you just have a special day and that you realize that you are valued and that the Lord has called you to do wonderful things in the lives of those that he's given you influence over. So until next time, we want to encourage you to seek God, love your spouse, hug your kids and stay devoted. Thank you for tuning in to this Devoted Life podcast with James and Shanda. We appreciate your support in sharing biblical, uplifting truths with the world. If you found value in this episode, please leave us a rating and review on your favorite podcast platform. Your feedback helps us to improve the show and we'd love to hear from you. Be sure to hit subscribe so you never miss an episode. To learn more about how to live a life devoted to God and family, head over to thisdevotedlifecom. You can also follow me, shanda, on Instagram at devoted underscore motherhood. Thank you again for listening and we look forward to seeing you next time on this Devoted Life podcast.