Raising four kids has its rewards. It also has its challenges. And I don't mean just being sure each of them gets to an event, rehearsal or practice on time. And I don't mean just being sure each of them has enough money to cover this school fee, or that equipment purchase, or this new instrument upgrade. Because pretty soon they're going to grow up and they'll have their own means of transportation and they'll have their own job and won't need to ask me for money. (I did say “eventually.”)
You know what the biggest challenge is for us as parents right now? Time. Two of our four are out on their own with jobs in cities a couple of hours from us. The other two are both in school and again, about two hours from us. Seems like we hardly ever have time to just talk, to catch up, to just be with each other. There's no time. I miss daily contact with them. I miss knowing exactly what's going on in their lives. I'm pretty sure they don't mean to cut ol' Dad out of their life, and I'm pretty sure I'm not the only parent that's ever felt this way. It's just that life gets in the way and time is scarce.
A while back one of our sons was home for about 48 hours. Here's what I did the first night he was home: I just sort of stared at him. We sat around and chatted a bit. We watched a baseball game on TV. But mostly I just stared at him; amazed at how he'd become a young man all of a sudden; eager to see him blossom and take charge of his life, yet strangely hanging on to the urge to protect him and provide for him. I'd missed our time together and I enjoyed hearing in person what was going on in his life. It did my heart and my spirit good to just be in the room with him. It wasn't as much time as I would have preferred, but in the end, it was enough. So, mostly I just stared.
I get the sense that God feels that way about me sometimes. Most of my days are pretty full so I like to get an early start. That usually means a cup of coffee, some Bible and devotional reading, and prayer as the sun comes up. But too many times that means rushing through the reading, mindlessly checking off each name or item on my prayer list, and mentally moving on to the day's tasks or assignments. All too rarely do I just sit … and listen … and enjoy “being in the room” with God. It's not that I mean to cut Him out of my life. It's just that life gets in the way, and if He really knew how busy I was I'm sure He'd understand.
But every now and then I hear Him say: “What's going on that's new and exciting in your life? Anything I can help you with? Anything you want to tell me? Anything you need to tell me?”
“Oh, and by the way,” He says. “I miss you.”
