Making Time...

We are officially over half way to our new home in Foxboro, MA! Every state the kids and I cross is like a little celebration with some yelling, congratulating and doing the wiggly finger hand shake. We’ve had emergency candy stops, impromptu dance parties and a stop at the Salina, KA zoo where Eli said, “Look dad! That kangaroo is putting the other one in its pouch!” Which really was not what was happening. At all.

All of this has been a great wake-up to this simple by immensely important truth: I need time in order to connect with my kids. Not just five minutes here or there, but they need a lot of time. Being tired, worn-out, etc does not pass as an excuse to not spend quality and quantity time with my kids. And because it is so important, I need to have a plan of attack for each day how I am going to spend quality and quantity time with them. Because the truth is, I only have one shot with my kids. I only have one shot to show them what it means to be a godly man/husband/dad. In thirteen years, Eli will be out of high school- and then he’s on his own to implement what I’ve taught him. So my plan is to shave out thirty minutes after work everyday (or until dinner is ready) and just get crazy with the kids. Because without that time, my words won’t carry much weight.

And as much as this has been impressed on me, God has been rocking my world about how much more important (even more important than spending time with my kids) it is to spend quality and quantity time with my wife! The best way I can be a great dad to my kids is by being an even better husband to my wife. Which means dates, and lots of them. It means giving her quality time by herself and time for us to be Bonnie and Hero. Remember 1 Peter 3:7? And even though it may be hard to chisel out time, chisel out I must. If it as valuable as God seems to make it, then it should be my number one investment. 

Until next time...God’s peace to you.
-Justin