Ok, Sorry it has been a while but as you can imagine life is busy around the Holidays.
As a father I have learned that things that are the convenient easy route, typically aren't the route I need to take. I have learned that my wants aren't as important as my family's needs.
One thing I have seen over and over is that we as a culture are a take care of me generation. Getting our hair done, nails done, new shoes, newest phone, newest car. Then when it's time to spend time with our children the funds seem to not be present....Don't get me wrong, I understand the economy is awful, and a free trip to the park is just as valuable as a trip to Six Flags(not to mention way cheaper! LOL). However, I have seen quite a few parents ensure their "wants" are met before spending quality time with their children. I am speaking to myself here as well....
As anyone will tell you I'm a lil more than a football fan...I'll say football enthusiast and Samantha will say Fanatic LOL. Saturdays and Sundays are full of games that even if my team persay isnt playing in I will watch in it's entirety and enjoy every second of it. Sitting in my recliner with a glass of sweet tea, kicked back and being lazy...and you may say yes that's pretty innocent. And while I agree, I will say this everything is good.....in moderation. As most of you, I work Monday thru Friday which makes the weekends family time, time for church, and time to relax/catch up on laundry and other household chores. Would spending every weekend in my chair kicked back watching football as my children keep asking to play, or are in the back keeping themselves entertained or Samantha is cleaning as she usually is :) be fair if this was the case every weekend? I would say not at all...
Last weekend I watched the movie Courageous. It is made by the same people that made Fireproof and Facing the Giants. The movie was incredible. And it's weird how seeing things in a different perspective can smack you in the face....I won't spoil the movie for you but it focus's on fatherhood and our Biblical duties as fathers. There is a scene where the Father's little girl is sitting in his lap watching TV trying to snuggle up with him. The Mother walks in and says its time for bed. The daughter gets up and strolls down the hallway reluctantly as those of us with children have seen a million times. As she gets up, the father has a zombie stare on the TV and barely notices she left...as she nears her bedroom she glances back at her father with a heart breaking look, drops her head and heads in. The girl wanted so much for her Daddy to tuck her in....to say Good Night, Say I love you. As I watched I couldn't help but flashback to nights where Monday Night Football was on or A late Saturday game and my lil girl would come kiss me and say good night and walk down the hallway and I wondered..."Did she look down the hall as the girl from the movie did?"
The movie had me rethink what it is to be a Father. Am I doing it right?
I have had several male influences in my life that have shaped my character one way or the other....My Father has been in my life since birth. As uncommon as that is nowadays, he was. And I saw him deal with tragedy, stress, multiple jobs and much more. Did he always handle it great? No....but he tried. As a man myself now I see my father in a different light. A man who did what he could for our family and made sure we didn't go without...(and with three boys that was a feat LOL). My grandfather who served his country for over 20 years, fought for our country and held me to a standard I hated as a child but he taught me. He taught me that hard work pays off, family is everything, and honor your word. My Papaw Tadpole (My Dad's dad) and I were very close. I spent alot of time as a child with him, fishing and all sort of things. My Uncle Roy was also a big factor in my life...between wrestling around, fishing, four wheeler riding, and spend nearly every summer with him and my aunt he showed me again the importance of family, hard work, and taking care of your children.
These men all influenced me. I look at myself and think....who am I influencing....and not just influencing but POSITIVELY influencing. I know my children see me at my best and at my worst. I want to be the father that they run to when they need something. The one that they call for advice, to rant, to vent, or just to talk. I want when someone asks them who set the standard in your house they say, "Dad". I am charged to be the spiritual leader of my house and I will.
This movie had me question the little things we do...when is the last time we played a board game with our kids? Played outside? Read with them? So I guess the point of this post is...how dedicated are we to our children that we spend time with them to make sure we are the influences in their lives? How will our kids look back and say their childhood was? and how involved are we with them? That is a regret I do not want to have.....
