The Godly Character Qualities I Pray My Son Learns from His Father
In a culture that pulls boys in so many directions, I’m sharing the four godly character qualities I pray our son learns from watching his father walk with God.
Laura Pelletier
6/16/20266 min read
I held his scrunchy little wet body against mine, so very happy to finally have my baby in my arms. I peeked down and said to my husband, “It’s a boy.”
At that moment, Nate looked so very proud to have a son.
Our son is four months old, still tiny and innocent and completely unaware of what our sinful world looks like. I see the headlines. I hear the stories. I'm online enough to know the kinds of men our culture often produces and praises. And I want so much more for my son.
“Follow Me as I Follow Christ”
That is a sentiment given by the apostle Paul, and one we should take to heart when deciding who we allow to influence and lead us.
I want our little boy to grow up to be like his father, but it’s more than that. I want our son to grow up following his father because he follows our Heavenly Father.
I know my son’s character will ultimately be shaped by his own walk with God, but I am grateful that he has a father whose example points him toward Christ.
There are many things I pray my son learns from his dad, but these four qualities stand out most to me: patience, presence, faithfulness, and devotion to God's Word.
1. Patience
"Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God."
James 1:19-20
Have you ever asked your husband a question that, halfway through asking it, you realized you already knew the answer to? Do you frequently lose your phone and have to ask your husband to call it? Have you ever completely fallen apart simply because you felt overwhelmed?
If you answered yes to any of those questions, you and I have a lot in common.
It takes great patience to live with another imperfect, sinful human being and consistently extend grace.
My husband and I have been married for three and a half years, and in that time, he has never once raised his voice at me or given me the silent treatment.
He barely even batted an eye when I told him I had dented our truck on a fence post on our property. I felt horrible and foolish for making such a silly mistake, but he graciously forgave me instantly.
That takes true, Christ-like patience.
The kind of patience I admire most in Nate isn't simply his ability to remain calm when things go wrong; it's his deliberate choice to prioritize grace over frustration and kindness over irritation.
Our sweet little boy is going to make a lot of mistakes in his life, and I am so grateful he has a father who models self-control rather than a short temper.
What a blessing it will be for our son to have a father who is actively seeking not only to correct him but also to extend grace in those teaching moments.
I pray our son learns from his dad that true strength isn't found in demanding your own way, but in treating others with gentleness—especially when they stumble.
"Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city."
Proverbs 16:32
2. Presence
You know those people who just seem to fill a room? The kind of people you love to be around because they instantly make you feel happier? They can strike up a conversation with absolutely anyone, put them at ease, and make them laugh.
That perfectly describes my husband. His vibrant, warm energy seemingly fills the room.
Nate is an excellent listener and is emotionally and socially engaged with the people around him. I have watched him counsel hurting people with empathy and rejoice with others at the gift of a baby. He truly cares about people, meeting them exactly where they are and engaging with them on their level.
"Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others."
Philippians 2:4
Jesus was the ultimate example of this. Even when He was surrounded by massive crowds, He always stopped for the individual. He gave people His full, undivided attention, making them feel valued by their Creator.
Our culture often teaches men to be self-focused, always looking ahead to their own achievements or tuning out the world behind a screen. But I pray our sweet little boy learns a different way from his father
. I pray he grows up to be a man who values people over distractions, who knows how to listen with a compassionate heart, and who genuinely cares for others.
3. Faithfulness
My husband has lived in Quebec, Canada; South Carolina; New Hampshire; and Iowa—all at the Lord’s leading.
For me, it took many tears, crying out to God, and relying on Him more than I ever had before just to move an hour and a half away from where I grew up. Yet Nate has a deep desire to simply be in God’s will, and he would go anywhere in the world to remain there. Not only is he willing to faithfully go wherever God wants him to go, but he has also remained steadfast and faithful to God’s calling on his life.
My husband is a pastor, and I have watched him strive to shepherd people with the same steady, unwavering devotion that he brings home to our family.
Following God's will into ministry hasn’t always been easy or comfortable, but he continually chooses obedience over convenience.
As our sweet little boy grows, I pray he learns from his father that true faithfulness isn't measured by how comfortable or safe your life is. I pray he becomes a man who loves God's will above his own plans, and who has the courage to follow the Lord’s leading wherever—and to whatever—He calls him to.
4. Devotion to God's Word
If my husband is lying awake at night, I can tell you right now it is almost always because he is meditating on something he has been studying in the Scriptures.
The very first time I ever heard Nate preach, he was speaking to children at a summer camp. He shared a principle that night that has stuck with me ever since:
“Have a Bible reason for everything you do in life.”
He was explaining to those kids that we need to have a clear, scriptural foundation for our lives—because the way we live, speak, and make decisions ties everything else together.
Years later, I get to watch him live that out every single day. I see him earnestly seek the truth of the Scriptures, not just so he can understand the message and its application for himself, but so he can clearly and faithfully present it to our church family.
The first three attributes—patience, presence, and faithfulness—all hinge completely on this final one. Nate is able to love, lead, and serve well because he constantly anchors his heart in truth.
Our little boy is growing up in a world that is constantly changing and pulling at him to take the easy way and live for himself. But I pray that he chooses a life devoted to God. I am so incredibly grateful that when our son looks at his father, he will see a man who stands firm on the solid rock of Scripture.
I pray our sweet boy grows up to love the Bible, to hunger for its truth, and to hold fast to it above all else. More than anything, I pray he learns from his dad to never move blindly through this world, but to always have a clear, beautiful, and steadfast biblical reason for everything he does.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, Nate's devotion to God's Word fuels his faithfulness to God's calling, which in turn shapes how he treats others with patience and results in a presence that blesses everyone around him.
His patience, presence, and faithfulness aren't just natural personality traits—they are the fruit of a life deeply rooted in Scripture.
When I look at our four-month-old baby boy, I know the world will offer him countless definitions of what it means to be a man. But I rest easy knowing that every single day, right in our own home, he will see a living example of a man who walks with God.
I know my son’s character will ultimately be shaped by his own relationship with the Lord, but I am profoundly grateful for a husband whose everyday life points our boy straight toward Christ.
That is the legacy I pray he inherits—a life built on the solid rock of God's Word, lived out with patience, presence, and unwavering faithfulness.
