Dad-isms

If you were raised by your dad or had a significant father figure, then you are guaranteed to have some “Dad-isms”. Dad-isms are quotes or expressions that your dad would say regularly to get things in your head, to make you understand your own history, to create discipline and character in you, or to try and help you see the future more clearly.

My own dad would often say things like, “Let your yes be yes and your no be no”. As in, he wanted us to have integrity of word and action. Another Dad-ism in my house would have been, “Get on with it!”. Which meant I should hurry up and do something, not just stand there thinking about it. He would also often use this Dad-ism as a proverb, “When you don’t have a car, you have many problems, but when own a car, you just have many different problems”. He would use this to describe how we want what we don’t have, thinking a material thing will make our live easier or better, but in fact it just changes what we’re worrying about. My dad wanted us to be content in the circumstances and with the possessions we already had.

What are some classic Dad-isms from your father?

Our Heavenly Father also has a lot of Dad-isms for his kids. There’s a lot of wisdom, insight and experience we can gain from the things he tells us over and over- if only we would take them to heart!

For example, he says “Do not be afraid” 365 times in the Bible. That’s a dad-ism for every day of the year. God also tells us over and over of his love for us. Our Father says it, he shows it, he sings it, he demonstrates it hundreds of times and in hundreds of ways.

If it hasn’t been your day, your week, your month, or even your year- go back to the Dad-isms. They’re the things He’s been trying to say to us over and over to encourage and equip us as his children who he loves.

Not sure where to start? Check out these great Dad-ism verses.