One of the things I’m really hoping to do during this transition time is restore some order and balance to my life and that of my family. As things were coming to a close here, I began to realize how incredibly unhealthy my life had become. I decided that if I’m going to have a lifetime of effective and successful ministry AND have a happy and healthy marriage/family then I better be more intentional about creating and maintaining healthy habits. So I jotted down some thoughts for a “self-sustainability plan.” This includes spiritual, physical, mental, emotional and social health for myself and family.
As I jotted down my ideas for this plan, one of the things I got most excited about was spending more time with my family. One of the things I’ve attempted to do before but without much consistency was to have one-on-one time with each of my boys. So I have determined in this transition to get in the healthy habit of having “daddy time” for one hour per week with each of my three boys. This is one hour that each of them has my full and undivided attention and we do whatever it is that they want to do.
For instance, today for daddy time with my five year old, we went to the park and threw sticks in the rapid spring-thawed river and then went and had ice cream (all my childhood memories center around ice cream so I want to pass them on to my children, of course). And yesterday with my 8 year old, we played in the “tree fort” (a strategically fallen tree in our woods) and then finished the time by playing tag (at which point I was reminded again of how painfully out of shape I am).
It is so cool to see the pure joy on each of my children’s faces when it’s their day for daddy time. They completely eat it up. But that’s not surprising. What is surprising is how much I have thoroughly enjoyed the individual time with each of my boys. They each have such distinct personalities and I feel like we connect on a level during that one hour that does not happen the entire rest of the week. It has been a pure joy over the past month to spend this time with my boys and I really hope I can carry this healthy habit into whatever lies ahead for us.
Tag, you’re it. Read my blog for details.
(I’ll come back and read this later. I’m in a hurry)
That is cool, Jeff.
It will be neat to see how that becomes more and more of your life and how it starts to spill over into other times and helps to glue your whole family together.
Got any time set aside to spend with your wife? I’m sure you do, but it is always good to remember the woman that has so captured your heart.
God continue to bless.
Good stuff Jeff.