Your Children will remember

However, much to Dingiswayo’s surprise, Shaka shows no emotion whatsoever upon receiving the news.

Now fully aware that there was a time in the past when Shaka and his mother had been severely mistreated by Senzagakona, Dingiswayo, nevertheless urges Shaka to show some remorse over the death of his father, even just for the sake that the man was his father.

Shaka, however, responds with what was perhaps one of the most touching statements in that entire episode:

He says,

“My conception was a moment of pleasure for him, and the beginning of a lifelong struggle for me. If I have tears, I’ll shed them for myself – not for my father.”

Now why do we bring that up?

It is simply to illustrate the following point:

Children will always remember how their father treated them.

And most of all, children will always remember how their father treated their mother.

Therefore, as a man, do not make it difficult for your children to love you;

Do not make it difficult for them to respect you;

Do not make it difficult for them to sincerely mourn you when you are gone;

And do not leave them with a heart so full of anger towards you that it will take God to set them free.

So look after your children.

And most importantly, treat their mother well.

Why?

It is because your children will remember.

“Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”
– (Ephesians 6:4)