Last week, one of my favorite fatherhood movies ever, Courageous, was released on DVD and BluRay.  This film debuted in theaters in the Fall of 2011 and was a real hit.

The story is about four law enforcement officers working for the sheriff's department in Albany, Georgia, who find themselves at different levels of commitment to fatherhood.  A tragedy in the life of one of these friends motivates him and the others, and even others outside of this circle, to reconsider their attitude toward God, family and fatherhood.  They make a "resolution" to be better men and better fathers, and then find their commitment to this new resolution tested in a plot twist that is unexpected and yet thought provoking.

My friend Roland Warren from the National Fatherhood Initiative wrote a guest blog post about Courageous and I did a detailed review of the film.  I recommend it heartily to all fathers and young men who will become fathers.  It will move you, stimulate discussion among you and your friends and your sons, and will change your view of fatherhood.

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I have been thinking a lot of late about what distinguishes a successful father from one that is not so successful as a role model, mentor and father to his children.    One of the distinctions I thought about had to do with promises.   We all know how important it is to make and keep commitments in a family.    So one of the things I have considered is the promises that effective fathers make and keep that less effective fathers don't.

So I am working on a short series of articles about what I have postulated to be four key promises for fathers.  I just finished the first one - on sacrifice.

When a man becomes a father, he finds quickly that his life has changed in many ways.   He learns that he has to give up quite a few old habits, hobbies and spending patterns to accommodate the new life in his life.   Dads who understand and are willing to make sacrifices and keep their commitment to sacrifice tend to be more committed to being a dad.   Those who want to hold on to the old life and are not willing to put "first things first" are not as committed and tend to chafe under what they see as the burdens of fatherhood.

So, check out these thoughts about the promise of sacrifice and see if you agree with the need for a father to make and keep his promise to sacrifice for his family.

More thoughts of the principles of fatherhood:

• Teaching responsibility
• Using the golden sword
• Helping teach your children about values

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In our fast paced and often self-absorbed world of today, there appears to be a growing trend of men putting off fatherhood.  I see a lot of DINK (dual income, no kids) couples who seem perfectly content to find their fulfillment at work and in their own relationship absent children.  Granted, children are not for every couple, but many of us who are parents, and have been for years, can;t help but feel that our DINK friends are missing out on the opportunity to be fathers and mothers.

It is a question most men ask themselves over and over. "How will I know when I am ready to be a father?"  Find out what you should think about and the questions you should answer to know when you are ready for fatherhood.

More on becoming a new father:

• Getting the most out of childbirth classes
• Body changes during pregnancy that you should know about
• The "Ready for Fatherhood" quiz

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With Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney's nail-biter win in Iowa and upcoming primary races in other states, more focus is shifting to Romney's family.   A recent New York Times article about his four sons and their involvement in the campaign and in public service has highlighted the Romney family and Mitt Romney's role as the father of these four sons.

Even though their presence has been less conspicuous in this campaign than in 2008, the four boys were there as dad declared victory in Iowa.  And they shared some insights into family life on the campaign trail, like their fitness regimen on the road and the guilty pleasures that chocolate milk shakes bring.

Even when men are prominent business leaders or political figures, they also have a continuing role to play in their families.  Mitt Romney, regardless of his politics, has been a committed father who continues to enjoy his family, even as the children are all married and in their own adult lives now.

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