I have learned a few things about being a parent via observation over the years. I believe it is worthy of spending some time on.
May I begin by reminding those who have young children, they grow up only once. That’s the theme of the message that I want to share with you.
I have younger friends who still work 350 days a year, 12 to 15 hours per day, ignoring their family, making more money than they ever can spend, not physically taking care of themselves. Why?
Everybody can see their material success, but beneath it, and behind it, are the ashes created by the chasing of false dreams. “I’m doing it for my family’s future,” is the war cry.
Eventually the truth is there for all to see, when the family doesn’t work out the way one wants. I was lucky. Things turned out well, thanks in great part to the mother of my two sons.
But I want to share with you the story of Dick. The day I met him, he was a highly successful businessman, principal owner of a big manufacturing plant.
One Saturday afternoon a month, I would spend time at my church to talk with anyone who needed a willing ear and caring heart. It was mid-afternoon one Saturday in April, when Dick showed up.
He virtually crawled through the door. His body was wrenching from pain, tears flowed down his cheeks. His eyes were blood-red.
Dick’s twenty-year-old son had committed suicide, the week before. He left a suicide note. The words in the note that stood out to Dick were these: “I had a father, but I didn’t have a dad!”
Those of you who still have children at home, how many weekends in a year do you devote solely to your family? From the time a child is born, until the time that child leaves home around eighteen, there are less than a thousand weekends available for you to be a parent.
When it comes to weekend activities that include children, the statistics are not good for the average parent. Less than fifty percent devote at least one weekend a month for family activities.
“C’mon Lou, kids today are wrapped up in their electronic devices, and don’t have time for their parents.” Is that a reason, or an excuse?
Do you throw up your hands and call it quits? Despite getting a late start, my friends Richard and Martha, set up family time that included their two teenagers, along with their two younger siblings.
Resistance was strong, as you can imagine. But through persistence and parental persuasion, the family begin to enjoy some time together away from all the electronic devices.
It would serve all parents well to understand just how small the window is for enjoying their children. “Gosh, I can’t believe how fast they grew up.” Sound familiar?
You are greatly treasured to have your children, or grandchildren. As a grandparent, I am blessed to be able to spend a couple days a week outside the home with my younger grand kids. I don’t know who loves it more, the kids or myself.
