Don't Tell Me You Can't

I count myself extremely blessed. I am married to a wonderful woman - I definitely married above me. I've got 5 healthy and active kids each with their own individual personality. I get paid to care about people and help them care about others because Jesus cares about us all. I get to do ministry with people I really like being around. I have friends all over, from Korea, Iraq and England to Minnesota, Florida and Texas. I could go on...

So when Lora asked if she could take Sarah to the $1 morning movie after dropping the boys off at wrestling camp, I told her sure. Now, that means I'm at the house with a one year old that can't really entertain herself, but I count it my privilege.

So when Lora called to tell me she felt guilty and I about hung up on her - stop feeling guilty for letting me be a dad to my daughter so you can be a mom to yours! (nothing personal honey)

Could I get anything done? Yep. Just not work related. Hannah and I rolled around on the floor, cuddled, "talked" to each other (I speak pretty fluent baby) and I just laid her down for a nap. Is it sometimes hard to balance work and family? Of course, that's actually one of the few stupid questions that actually exist.

But I believe that my success as a person, my success as a pastor, rests squarely on the foundation of my success as a husband and father. I finished reading Andy Stanley's book, Choosing to Cheat (cheaper if you buy direct) about a month ago, and he's right - we all cheat somewhere. Unfortunately for families everywhere, too many people cheat their families and wouldn't even think of "cheating" work. Is it because you might get fired and at least your family can't fire you??? Face it, if people needed to perform up to a certain standard in order to keep their "job" as parents, some kids would fire their parents in a minute if they could (and it won't matter how much $$$ they throw at 'em) For that matter, some spouses would fire their "beloved" too - because they're failing to live up to expectations.

But no, we make excuses, lower expectations, settle for less than the best and then gather together to complain about it, realize that we're not the only ones and think we can at least feel a bit better knowing there are other people who are as miserable and unfulfilled as we are. That's not something to cheer about, it's something we should help change.

So come on people. Leave work early and take your wife out or take your kids fishing or camping or something. If you think you "can't" take time off of work, maybe it's time you start looking for a new job (and stop making excuses about why you "can't" do that either)