The measure of a father

“You have planted much, but harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it. This is what the Lord Almighty says, “Give careful thought to your ways.” Haggai 1: 5-7 NIV

The word “alignment” has been on my mind today. I was thinking about how my prayer life seems to focus on things that worry me. We know people who are struggling in health, in finances and in purpose. Mary and I are not exceptions to these struggles. A friend sent these verses to me this evening and it has me wondering if I am giving careful thought to my ways.

I think I am content. But after running through two days of knocking on doors, the sales were slim this week and I was grumbling to myself. I am getting older and I can tell. My knees scream randomly throughout the day. I weigh too much. I think I do not have as much of really anything good like money or time or talent. Unfortunately, my measuring cup is not always the one God wants me to use.

I have been blessed with a good job, a beautiful family and a future that I look forward to. But is that why I am here? God can use all of those things. However, God can also use the lack of all of those things. Really God can use whatever He wants. How about me?

One of my favorite days of the year is coming up this week. I love being a dad. In each phase of life, I get to watch them. In each phase I can also wonder if I have done enough to help them or teach them. If I were given a chance to live all over again I would do quite a few things differently. But as a dad, I would simply live slower.

Guys we can work. We can earn opportunities. We can collect and save and build. We can strive. But the more we do of those things the harder it is to be present in the lives that make us the most important thing we are, a dad.

If I was giving advice to any dad, one getting ready for Father’s Day number 1 or for number 27 (like me) or 68 (my dad if he were still alive) or however long it has been, I would say go slow. Enjoy every single minute you can. Use the measuring cup of the lives you have been loaned to you to train. They grow up and shine brighter than anything you may ever do. Enjoy it.

You will see other people working more hours. Some people will have more cash than you. Some will buy a bigger house or a nicer car than you. Some will wonder how in the world you can spend so much time in Claire’s looking at plastic jewelry. Let them wonder.

You can teach your kids how to laugh, how to build and how to think. You can teach them that there is no greater goal than to figure our what it is that God wants them to do. You really can impact a generation of people by simply turning down the noise and loving them.

Do you spend time with your kids on purpose? If not, start.

Which do you do more, lecture or laugh? They will remember laughing a lot longer. Aly had an attention span of about 8 seconds for a lecture. But she can remember us laughing at Sponge Bob episodes from 15 years ago.

Challenge: Use the right measure. You’re a dad. Have a Happy Fathers day.

Rick Claiborn