Playing with Riches

I'm a rich man.  I've been reflecting on that lately.  With the fast approaching birth of #4, I've been thinking a lot about my family.  God has certainly blessed me beyond measure.  I took today off and ate all three meals with my kids today.  I hugged and cuddled each of my kids today too.  I helped my daughter with her school work this morning and had a good time just connecting with her and teaching her not only about school stuff, but about me and her.  It was a good day.  I can't believe my daughter is about to turn 9 or that the boys are getting so big.  #3 has grown so much in his ability to express himself in complex ways.  Tonight we sat together as a family and watched  a PBS special on whales and dolphins.  The kids were facinated and #3 was repeating facts to us that he found interesting.

All that to say that I am a rich man, blessed by the wonderful children God has given me.  I am amazed in how much they learn, how quickly they learn, and how much they blossom every time I make sure that I take a few minutes to pour my life into them a little bit.   I am reading a fun book to them and those times are precious.  We have actually read a couple of books through so far ("The Phantom Tollbooth" and "The Trumpet of the Swan").  My daughter and I are also reading "The Hobbit" at night after the boys have gone to bed.  Each moment enriches me more.

It is not enough for my kids to be in my home and in my life.  I must be in their life.  If I'm not deep in it now, I won't be later.  You don't have to push me or guilt me into it though, because I can't resist them.  They are my second calling (after my wife).  With all apologies to my church, but the church and outside ministry is clearly my third calling.  In fact, the more I invest in my first callings, the more rewarding my third calling is because I have more strength to take into the church as I am supported by my family, enriched by my family, and my family becomes a part of the image of Christ that I share with the church.

I'm getting eager to meet #4.  As a younger, single man, I knew I wanted to be a Dad, but I had no idea just how rewarding it would be!