I Worked for this Smile | Protecting the Unprotected | Ep 218 | The Dear Son, Show

Every father should have honest conversations with his son. In this episode of The Dear Son, Show, we explore the lessons fathers must teach their sons before adulthood. John Lewis on Childhood Trauma, Identity in Christ, and Becoming the Father His Son Needs | Dear Son Show On the Dear Son Show, host D Johns talks with Jon Lewis about growing up in Pleasant Grove, his parents’ divorce around age 12, and being told he was “the man of the house,” which led to pressure to perform, resentment, and years of carrying responsibility for his mother and brother. John shares experiences of child abuse and being molested while protecting his brother from a neighbor, and how his father’s reaction left him feeling unprotected. He describes learning his worth beyond providing, seeking affirmation in relationships, pursuing therapy and coaching, and having difficult but healing conversations with his mother and later his father, who apologized and shared his own fatherlessness. John recounts years of nonstop crises, including a gun being pointed at him, a legal case, and a head injury causing cognitive deficits, and explains how faith and community helped him cope. He discusses how these lessons shape his relationship with his son and highlights his journal, “When God Calls You by Name,” about men’s identity in a biblical framework, available via @justjohnlewis. 00:00 Childhood Trauma Revealed 01:11 Welcome to Dear Son 01:44 Fighting for a Smile 02:04 Family Life Updates 03:40 Where You From Dallas 05:11 Parents Divorce Fallout 09:07 Man of the House Pressure 13:14 Resentment and Rejection 15:38 Healing Talk With Dad 17:43 Learning Self Worth 20:10 Therapy and Mom Talks 23:21 Molestation and No Protection 25:01 Protector Identity and Aggression 26:20 Living for Me After COVID 27:44 Love and Brain Cancer 28:59 Blended Family Commitment 30:33 Identity After Loss 32:22 Life Event After Event 33:15 Gunpoint Hotel Incident 36:11 Injury And Recovery 36:43 Community Over Isolation 41:00 Faith Becomes Real 45:03 Fatherhood With Honesty 48:58 What I Wish Dad Said 51:36 Book On Men's Identity 54:26 Where To Find The Book 54:48 Final Thanks And Outro #fathersonrelationship #adviceformen #modernfatherhood #adultchildren #lifelessonsformen #raisingmen #raisingkids #mantalk Channel Focus Areas: “What Fathers Should Teach Their Sons” “How to Be a Better Father” “Father Son Relationship Advice” “Mistakes Fathers Make” “Lessons Every Man Should Learn” Shop DSN Merch: https://thedearsonshop.store Follow Jon: https://instagram.com/justjonlewis Also, if you've made it this far, don't forget to: 1. subscribe to the channel, 2. turn on the notifications, 3. like this video, 4. leave a comment, and 5. share this content with someone who needs it. The DSP: https://thedearsonpodcast.com Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors: Love Kisha J Studios: https://houseoflkj.com Let’s connect socially: https://instagram.com/thedearsonpodcast https://facebook.com/thedearsonpodcast The Three Foundational Pillars of the DSP Community 1. Reveal trauma 2. Heal from trauma 3. Help through telling stories of it all “Better Man. Better Father.” The Dear Son, Network ® Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy