Over the years, as I’ve watched my daughters grow, I’ve seen change. And, as I think about the future, I see much more change ahead. Well, if you’re like me, change is hard. I like routine. I like rhythms. I’m nostalgic. But, change is necessary. It’s part of being human. It’s part of life. But it doesn’t have to dominate all my thoughts, nor does it have to define my fears. I still have today. I still have the present. I still have this season.
The question is…
How do I invest well in the everyday moments of life?
In my season…as it pertains to one facet of my life as a father…I’ll let my kids be kids.
They want to play, so I’ll play. They want to dance, so I’ll dance. They want to sing, so I’ll sing. They want to wrestle, so I’ll wrestle. They want me to look at a picture they just painted or drew or sketched or glued, so I’ll ooohhh and aaaah over their artwork. They want me to start a fire in the fireplace on cold mornings and just sit with them in the dark, so I’ll gladly and happily oblige. They want me to give them a pony…we’ll, maybe in another season :). Nevertheless, I’ll be there for my kids. But, I know I won’t be perfect. I’ll struggle with selfishness. I’ll struggle with anger. I’ll struggle with pride. I’ll struggle with fear and anxiety and worry and doubt thinking about how my relationship with them will change, but I’ll still be there for them irregardless of all the change(s). I’ll ask for their forgiveness when I fail, I’ll embrace the new facets of their life, and we’ll make the most of our present seasons.
How Does This Apply Today?
“There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven…”
Ecclesiastes 3:1
Do you have a hard time letting go and recognizing your season? This could show up in the form of either being absent with your family, your job, with your friends, or on the other hand not wanting things to change so bad that you live your life mainly in the past–causing you to be bitter in the present. Therefore, we should be people who pray for discernment in our seasons to embrace and invest, while remaining flexible and humble.
Do you have a hard time adjusting to and respecting your season? This could show up simply as putting yourself always before others. In other words, it’s the hunter who leaves for weeks while his wife cares for little kids alone. It’s the wife who can’t get off the smartphone, and the kids are starting to ask why mommy never has time for them. Therefore, respecting your season means you (1) recognize your season and (2) build parameters or guard rails to ensure you are able to redeem your season.
Do you have a hard time investing well and redeeming your season? This could show up as being present, but not engaged. This is the dad who may be there for his kids, but doesn’t take into account the way his children are made, and thus doesn’t bring them up according to their bent. This is the person who goes to work in order to simply collect a paycheck. They eat by themselves, they conversate with their other friends on the phone, and they miss investing in the relationships right in front of them. Thus, making the most of our time means I am active in understanding my spheres of influence, and I’m creatively thinking about ways to invest my life in making others and my circumstances better.
And so, may we be people who know our time(s), and invest in them well…because life is so short!
— December 14, 2018