I have another blog that I used to post to very often. Not so much anymore. I was just leafing through some of my older posts and found the one below. I wrote it eight years ago when my son, now in college, was just a kid. Tonight he will be on a train coming home for spring break. I enjoy his company as much now as I did back then! Here is some advice for him in anticipation of a time when he will have his own children. This also may be helpful to others who are already there.
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It's a Sunday night and I'm listening to my 13-year old son play piano. In less than two years he has come so far on this instrument. I'm very proud of him. The music he plays is beautiful.
It makes me think about how much I enjoy him. I enjoy him now and I enjoyed him at 3 years old, 1 year old, 7 years old...every age. I've made many mistakes in my life, but one thing I never did was wish the time away; that is, when he was two, I never wished that he was five, and when he was five, I never wished that he was eight. I tried to enjoy each stage, each time of life with my boys. Each age has its challenges and rewards, but they are all given to us from God. At 3 years old, I watched him become fascinated with a butterfly or a power tool or his shoelaces. Ten years later, I listen to him play piano, something he could not do at age three - the wonder and joy of it all.
For the few people who read this blog, please consider this advice: enjoy every age, don't rush your kids into the future, and don't think there are things more worthwhile than being with them. Yes, we have to work and we can contribute to the Kingdom there; we have to fix things that are broken around the house; it's great to spend time with friends - all of these things are a blessing and opportunities for obedience to God. But above all, our kids were given to us to raise, teach, love, and enjoy. We are raising sons of God, inheritors of the Kingdom, rulers of the earth. As fathers, this is one of the most important things we will do in life.
Enjoy your kids. Before you know it, they will be grown-up. You have about 18 years to teach them to love what God loves and hate what God hates. You have about 18 years to enjoy them as children. Don't wish any of that time away. I hope I never do.
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