On Being a First-Time Dad This Father’s Day

Ahead of Father’s Day, we'll be sharing stories of everyday Christian fathers, and how knowing God and the gospel has shaped their perspectives on children and parenting. In this reflection, Mikey Tai shares what God has been teaching him as a first-time dad!

1. Tell us a little about yourself! 
I pastor a church called Providence in Brisbane which began as a church plant 7 years ago. I’m married to Heidi, with a newborn daughter called Talitha, a dog named Simba, and a few fish tanks. As a side ministry we host ‘The Greater Story’ podcast, as I love watching movies and thinking through how they point us to Jesus. I also love to spend time with my fish tanks, hitting the gym, and reading books over a good coffee.

2. What are the joys and challenges of being a first-time dad? 
Honestly, it’s the simple joys like being able to cuddle her, being able to observe her changing week by week and seeing how she picks up new things. There’s also a sense of joy, knowing God has gifted you with this new responsibility and you get to play a part in raising and taking care of this vulnerable little human. The challenge, like most parents would feel at this stage, is the sleep deprivation! 

3. What does being a Christian father mean to you?
It means I have the opportunity to model and teach the gospel to my child and raise her in God’s covenant promises. 

4. What do you believe to be the ultimate purpose of fatherhood?
Like all of life, our purpose is to glorify God so even in fatherhood, God desires for me to glorify Him in the way that I love and serve my family, and bring them to a deeper knowledge and love of Him and love for others around us! 

5. How does knowing God the Father change the way you parent?
Knowing God allows me to entrust my child to Him knowing He loves her more than I ever could. It gives me courage too, because I don’t have all the answers and at times will stuff up, but God is in control, and He is growing my character in the process. Knowing God also allows me to see where I fall short as a father, and in my moments of sin like impatience or frustration, I can look to Jesus as a model to lean into and follow after.

6. Can you share something that God has been teaching you, since you’ve become a parent?
I’m selfish! I’m someone who loves efficiency and trying to get a newborn baby to sleep in the middle of the night can be very inefficient! Life changes a lot as a new parent and while you want your child to fit into your schedule and do what you want them to do, it never works out that way. A baby is a baby and you can’t control them. But I can be aware and get some control over my emotions and God has been showing me how impatient and selfish I am. When I lean into Jesus though, I’m reminded that I must be so hard to deal with too (and I’m not a baby!) and have had to remember how gracious and patient Jesus has been with me time and time again.