Excellent article. Sociologists remind us that men have fewer close friends than women. I see that spilling over to the father-child relationship. One of the dynamics I struggled with as a father and as a son in a business relationship is cultivating protection and safety in those relationships.

It seems to me that fathers have a unique opportunity of modeling and teaching about having other male friends, a limited number of friends who help provide this protection and safety beyond having a best friend wife. Jonathan and David practiced this even though the tension of other relationships could have destroyed their friendship.

I’m also reminded that Jesus had a special relationship with 3 of the 12. Even though those examples don’t speak directly to father-son relationships, teaching and showing sons by being in those relationships has, in my opinion, unequalled power.

Grant