A boy and his father. A father and his boy. In today's culture, relationships between a father and child seem to dwindle as fathers are absent from their child's growing up. It's a sad reality of the world we live in today. But yet, here we are.

We have not lost all hope, however, as some fathers hold tight to their families and families to their fathers.

Days ago, I walked into Walmart. An errand, not expected to turn into anything more. Walking over to the jewelry counter, I noticed a family: a mother, father, and their two sons, neither older than the age of twelve.

I quickly got in line behind them to wait my turn. As we were waiting for an attendant, we began conversing. One of the young boys was getting his ears pierced. After he had finished getting them pierced, he pulled out his own wallet and paid the total for his purchase.

A simple story really, but when I began thinking about the encounter later in the evening, a few things wouldn't escape my mind.

The boy's father had his ears pierced as well. This was a sweet picture to me. This little boy wanted to be like his father - because his father set an example for him. Not only that, but the boy's father came with him. His father didn't want to miss out on experiencing a new milestone in his son's life.

Our heavenly Father goes with us wherever we are, and doesn't miss a detail of our lives. In our walk with Him, we are in pursuit of becoming in the likeness of Him. Just as this father and son had demonstrated to me. Our earthly fathers should strive to be an example of Christ, to teach his children and wife to do the same.

Afterward, his father was teaching him to pay for something he'd wanted. This is something that is important to learn from an early age.. If you want something, find a way to earn it, instead of begging for it! Good work ethic teaches from an early age to work for something you want.

Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. - Prov 22:6