What Fatherhood has taught me about God
I am amazed how much God continues to teach me by watching my own children grow up. I had such an epiphany last night. My lovely wife leads a small group of teenage ladies every week and last night, their group met. The result… Robo gets the kids!! Yes, I know… that’s a scary thought, but I do babysit periodically, and believe it or not… I like it. It gives me a chance, in the midst of my crazy schedule, to spend time with my kids.
Now, Ty is still in eat, drool, poop stage… you parents know the cycle! So my plan was to feed Ty and get him down, so I could get down on the floor and enjoy some special daddy time with Wyatt! Wyatt is a great little boy… but he is very strong willed. We sat down for dinner and I informed Wyatt that he could not leave the table until he ate 1/2 of his PB&J sandwich… not an unreasonable request I thought. What resulted was a 1 1/2 hour mexican stand-off! He refused to take 2 bites of this sandwich… TWO BITES!!! That was all I asked. I found myself really frustrated and heart broken that this night, which I had been excited about spending time with my son, was ruined because he wouldn’t do something as simple as eat two bites of a sandwich.
In the midst of my frustration… I thought… wow, that must be how God feels about us sometimes. He sets a standard… He gives a command… and we often deny intimacy because we refuse to be obedient. God has never asked me to do anything unreasonable, and yet… I’ve often refused to do the simple things He’s asked me to do, an thus forfeit the fullness of joy He wishes to bring. How often have I refused to take “two bites” of His word, and in turn, lose the joy of His presence. The reality of that truth set in as I sat at the table… God would you help me to do the simple things you ask me to do so I can enjoy a closeness to You that I will never experience otherwise.