A Father who is easy to please, but hard to satisfy

Every father is pleased at the baby’s first attempt to walk: no father would be satisfied with anything less than a firm, free, manly walk in a grown up son. In the same way... “God is easy to please, but hard to satisfy.” CS Lewis, A Joyful Christian, 78.

This quotation is something that has long resonated with me as a father of two boys. I find that, while I greatly enjoy every stage of my boys growth and development whether it be their first smile, their first steps, or their first words, I am constantly considering what kind of men they were made to be. Many questions arise in my mind: What can I do to prepare them to be the unique men God has created them to be? How can I draw out their strengths? How can I motivate them toward maturity? How can I challenge them to grow?

I believe that God is relentless in his efforts to grow us up into maturity, while taking great pleasure in our current "baby steps". As a father, my greatest challenge is to reflect just a bit of the Father's diligence to see two boys develop a "firm, free, manly" stride.