My son Wesley is sick. So today, I worked on my laptop at the kitchen table while he played quietly in the living room. While I was writing an article for the upcoming newsletter, Wes calls out from the living room, “Hey Dad, it’s kinda nice with just you and me in the house.”
Caught off-guard, I wasn’t sure what to say, exactly. It was so unashamedly honest, and so purely innocent. Here is a five-year-old boy who has to contend with a big sister who wants to be his mama hen all the time, a three-year-old foster sister whose preferred means of communication is whining and stomping at him, and a toddler foster brother who takes up a huge chunk of his parents’ attention. I mean, what’s a kid got to do to get a little undivided attention around here?
The answer seems to be, “Run a fever of one hundred one and stay home from school.” Come to think of it, his staying home from school sick was the first time he had been away from other kids for ... I honestly don't know how long. At home, church, school, dance, soccer - he is always with other kids. The only time he ever gets to be alone with me seems to be when he is home sick.
And in the middle of the misery of his high temperature, runny nose, aches and pains, and periodic sneezing fits, he pauses long enough to reflect on how things feel, and he finds it “kinda nice.” And not only does he find it “kinda nice,” he also takes the time to tell me that it feels “kinda nice.” What a good kid!
Thank you, Wesley, for being who you are. And thank you for reminding me to appreciate the quiet moments of life, when a dad and a son are just hanging around together, not doing much of anything. I promise not to wait until you are sick to make time to be together, just me and you. It feels kinda nice to me, too.
Sermon for the First Sunday of Lent, Feb. 18, 2024
9 months ago
8 comments:
This is so sweet Andy ... brings out a dad's emotions :) Want you to know that I am thankful for you.
This reminds me of "dates" I used to have with my Mom and Dad. I grew up with one sister and once a month or so we'd have Date Night. One of us would go out with Mom and the other would go out with Dad. It was nothing fancy - perhaps dinner at McDonalds or a walk around the lake, but it was nice undivided time between each of us siblings and one of our parents.
Thanks for the morning tears. It made me laugh, it made me cry, and most of all it warmed my heart. Thanks to your commentators too, good thoughts gleaned from their musings as well.
Peace,
David
I know of nothing more valuable, effective or meaningful than a parent and a child spending quality time together. Busy schedules and other life distractions often keep us from this simple yet profound relationship. You can drag kids all over the world and expose them to every conceivlable blessing and what they remember is sharing an ice cream cone. Revel in that joy. Blessings, man. JB
I know of nothing more valuable, effective or meaningful than a parent and a child spending quality time together. Busy schedules and other life distractions often keep us from this simple yet profound relationship. You can drag kids all over the world and expose them to every conceivlable blessing and what they remember is sharing an ice cream cone. Revel in that joy. Blessings, man. JB
I used to pretend to fall asleep watching television in the hopes that dad would carry me to bed.
Needing attention? Or perhaps I was just lazy.
Either way, I've admitted it. The secret is out.
Guess no one is gonna mention Susanna Wesley? emil anonymously asked.
Makes me think of our rainy day walkds. Do you remember? cb
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