DELIGHT IN?
WHAT ARE WE BUILDING ARTICLE
DAD, WHAT DO YOU
BY KEVIN RATZSCH | SEPT 15, 2026 | 5 MINUTE READ
THE SWING
I remember a day at the park with my family when my son was little.
He wanted me to push him on the swing.
I didn't want to.
Nothing was wrong. I wasn't sick. I wasn't exhausted from some crazy day. I just didn't feel like getting up and doing it. I wanted to sit there and disengage.
So I didn't push him.
Another dad, who was there pushing his own child, ended up pushing my son too.
I'll never forget that.
That guy wasn't even my son's dad, and he was being a better dad to my son than I was that afternoon.
That stung. And it should have.
Looking back, I wasn't just missing an opportunity to do something for my son.
I was missing an opportunity to enjoy him.
And that's something I've thought about a lot over the years.
WHAT DAD DELIGHTS IN
Have you ever noticed how often kids develop an interest in the things their dads love?
Dad loves the Minnesota Vikings. Before long, his kids are wearing purple jerseys, learning the players, and celebrating touchdowns right alongside him.
Dad loves classic cars. His kids start recognizing old Mustangs and Camaros. They want to go to car shows. They want to help in the garage.
Dad loves fishing, hunting, basketball, or working on cars.
And pretty soon, those things become part of the family's life.
Of course, not every kid develops the same interests as Dad. But the influence is undeniable.
And here's what's interesting.
Dad probably didn't sit his kids down and give them a lesson about why they should love the Vikings.
They just saw how much he loved them.
They saw his excitement. They heard him talk about it. They wanted to be part of it.
What Dad delights in, his children often learn to delight in.
Now let's take that a little further.
What if Dad delighted in going to church?
Not just attending because it's Sunday and that's what Christians do.
What if he genuinely looked forward to worshiping with his family?
What if his kids saw him excited to open God's Word? What if family worship wasn't another box to check, but something he enjoyed?
What if they saw Dad delighting in their mom? In spending time together? In the ordinary work of being a husband and father?
Think about what that communicates.
Now let's turn it around.
What happens when the Vikings start taking priority over church?
Maybe the family skips worship to get ready for the game. Maybe Dad spends Sunday morning watching the clock, hoping the pastor wraps things up so they can get home before kickoff.
The kids notice.
They see Dad's excitement for football. They also see what happens when football and worship compete for his attention.
Dad doesn't have to tell his kids which one matters more. His priorities are already speaking.
And there's nothing wrong with loving the Vikings. That's not the point.
The question is whether our children are learning to delight in the right things, in the right order.
If you'll rearrange your entire schedule for a basketball tournament but struggle to make time for your family, something needs to change.
If your child comes home excited about something they're learning about God, but that excitement is met with indifference at home, what are we communicating?
And before we get defensive, I'm not saying you need to quit watching football, pull your kids out of sports, and move your family overseas to become missionaries.
Enjoy football! Compete! Work hard! Take the family on trips! Enjoy the good things God has given you.
But pay attention to where those things are taking you.
Because whether we realize it or not, we're teaching our kids what matters.
Through our schedules. Our spending. Our priorities. Our excitement. Our complaints. Our habits.
We don't get to choose whether we're influencing our children. We already are.
And yes, they'll eventually make their own decisions. We can't manufacture faith in them.
But we shouldn't underestimate the influence we have along the way.
Our kids aren't just learning what we believe. They're learning what we love.
WHEN BASKETBALL IS JUST A GAME
This matters in sports, too.
I've seen families pour incredible amounts of time, energy, and money into their children's athletic development.
Private trainers. Camps. Travel teams. Tournaments. Hours in the gym.
And I love basketball. I've spent a huge portion of my life playing it, coaching it, and helping kids improve.
I'm not telling anyone to stop working hard at the game.
But I do think we need to ask ourselves some questions.
Does basketball bring joy to our family? Or has it become a source of constant pressure and tension?
Does our child know we love watching them play regardless of how many points they score? Or does the ride home depend on their performance?
Are we so busy paying people to develop our kids that we're missing opportunities to spend time with them ourselves?
There's nothing wrong with hiring a trainer. But a trainer can't replace Dad.
And when a child knows that basketball is just one good part of life, something wonderful can happen.
They can play with freedom.
They can miss shots without feeling like they've disappointed their father. They can take risks, make mistakes, and learn.
They can compete hard and still enjoy the game.
When basketball stops being everything, it can become something really good again.
And you know what?
Often, they play better.
Not necessarily better than the kid next to them. Some kids simply aren't gifted athletes.
But better than the version of themselves who's afraid to fail, carrying unnecessary pressure, and trying to earn approval through performance.
They can become the best version of the player God has made them to be.
That's a pretty good outcome.
DAD, DON'T MISS OUT
I want to come back to that afternoon at the park.
I wasn't just failing to give my son something he wanted.
I was missing something myself.
Thankfully, I've learned a lot since then.
I love being a dad. I love running around the park with my kids. I love the conversations, the games, the laughter, and even the challenges.
I've learned to enjoy the work of fatherhood. Even disciplining my kids when they step out of line is an opportunity to teach them and help shape who they're becoming.
Delight isn't always something you start with. Sometimes you do the hard things because they're the right things. And often, the joy catches up.
I almost miss changing diapers.
Almost.
There was a time when I wished certain stages of parenting would hurry up and pass.
I don't do that anymore.
Now there are days I'd love to have back. Some because I wish I'd done better. But plenty of others simply because they were awesome.
And while I'd love to relive some of those moments, I've got kids to enjoy today.
That's what I want other dads to discover.
I'm not just telling you to put your phone down because your kids deserve your attention.
I'm telling you to put your phone down because you're missing out.
You're missing out on the laughter, the conversations, the ridiculous games, and the little moments that become memories.
You're missing out on the joy of teaching your children, correcting them, encouraging them, and watching them grow.
You're missing out on the blessing of leading your family in worship, praying together, and growing in your faith alongside them.
And if that's where you are right now, brother, it's time to step it up.
Not because I'm some perfect dad who has it all figured out.
I've been the guy sitting at the park who didn't want to push his own son.
I still need reminders. We all do.
That's why we need other men willing to challenge us when we're drifting.
Not to beat each other down, but to pull each other along.
Because there is joy to be found in every stage of fatherhood. Even the difficult ones.
And if you're already experiencing that joy, keep going. Keep growing. There's more to discover.
If you're not, don't keep waiting for the next stage to find it.
Delight in your wife. Delight in your children. Delight in worshiping God with your family.
Enjoy the game. Enjoy your hobbies. Enjoy the blessings you've been given.
Just don't let the lesser things crowd out the greater ones.
Because your kids are learning what to love by watching what you love.
And someday, when they're grown, they'll carry some of those loves with them.
But what about the things you hoped they'd love that you never showed them were worth loving?
Dad, if your children grow up delighting in the same things you do, will you be thankful for what you've passed down?
Basketball is Good. God is Greater.