Teach them to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up.
Today's devotion is more of a personal word as I let you see just a small piece of my heart. I love what I do for a living and serving the people I get to serve and work with, yet it is easy to miss some of the most important things in life. Much of that has to do with family. We need to guard our families and love them as no one else can. Ministers and others can often be work-a-holics or simply get so focused that we miss time with our family.
In the last few days I have experienced a couple moments that I want to share with you, but first please know that all I am doing is learning, trying to be honest and desire to be a better husband and a great dad as well as a follower of Jesus ... all of that at the same time.
This year my son, our youngest child, began to love racing. That has made me happy. We have enjoyed watching the race on Sunday afternoons and talking about what we experience. But this weekend took that to a new level. He went to the speedway with me some on Saturday and Sunday. Both days I took a some time to watch the race with my boy. His eyes would light up as those race cars would go around the track and especially as he saw his favorite driver and one of my least favorites, Jeff Gordon. We got to experience some of life together. I will cherish this weekend forever.
This morning something similar happen. It was a normal visit to the dentist office with our oldest child. The doctor shared somethings we needed to talk through, and over breakfast we talked. It hit me again; here is a moment I can cherish with my precious daughter. Yes, she is a teen. and we clash some. But this is my little girl. Those few minutes over a chicken biscuit mean a lot to this dad, and now we are on the same page on a few things.
About noon I got to take our middle daughter to the doctor. She has been sick this week. We talked for a couple hours. I noticed, as I was already sensitive to my kids, that this precious child is so unique and awesome (somewhat like her mom). Her humor really was a blessing to me as we talked. I pray she feels better soon.
Those were three special moments with my three precious kids. I need more of those moments. I need to find more of them and search for them and make sure they happen. It is my calling from God to love these kids like no one else can. My wife and I are to give them the best picture of what love is about and how God cares big time for them. Listen for another minute. The example that I set for these kids needs to be one of what their Heavenly Father looks like and of His character.
So how cam I doing? This is humbling. I fail far too often, but I want to do better. My desire is for my kids to have memories of a dad who loves God, their mom and them no matter what.
I better stop there. The tears are keeping me from being able to type. I love my precious wife. I love these three kids that are God's gift to our lives.
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Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him.