Daddy! I want to be a man
when I grow up!
These words in that little voice
have overflowed my cup!
Has he any idea what it means
to be a man?
Lord? Give me the grace
to teach him as well as I can
A man, and a boy differ
in a few important ways
A boy lives for himself, for the fun of it
A boy always plays
A man lives by faith
for his family all his days
When the going gets rough
a real man stays.
He chooses one woman
and makes her his queen
Like I chose to love your mother!
‘You know what I mean?
A man knows only One
who’s greater than himself
He never puts his trust in the Lord
away on the shelf
He doesn’t work for money
He makes money work for him
He sows, he reaps,
he saves again and again
He raises his children to learn, earn, save and share
He is generous to the Kingdom
sowing his time, talent, and treasure there
A man’s children’s children
are the heirs of his wealth
He prays for a long, blessed life
and cares for his health
Neither a man nor a father
will ever get it all right
Still, he strives to run the race to the end
and keep up the good fight
My son, that’s all I can say
about the man you’ll become
In you, I am already well pleased
You will surely be a good one.
Through much prayer and seeking His face,
He has made me see
You will be a far better man than me
Before you go through the door
to become all that you can
Put your trust in God our Father and
He will make you a man
Rodney Dale Swope
