JUST FOR DADS
Bham Family May 2020 13
Two months ago, life was
often overwhelming and
going by so fast with my
son who is a senior about
to graduate and head to
college. My second son will be
a senior next year, and with the
rest of our busy schedules that
lead us in a thousand different
directions every day, it felt like we
were chasing life as it was running
away from us.
We parents and children have measurably less
free time than any other generation before us. We
have trouble being still or saying no to activities, and
that we have bought into the idea that in order for
our kids to succeed in life they have to be involved
in every club, sport, and activity both inside of
school and outside of school.
Over the past month, life came to a screeching
halt. No more school, activities, and the daily hustle
and bustle schedule is no more. Some of us have
in our pajamas all day. Some of us have worried about
going out of the house even for essential groceries.
Some have needed long walks more than 3 times a
day to stay sane. But our family has loved learning
new things about our kids before they go to college,
and we have spent more quality time with them over
this last month than we have had in the last year.
During this time let us remember to embrace the
quality time and have hope.
Hope is an important and lifegiving characteristic
for us. The lack of hope causes despair, apathy, and
used as common prayers in liturgy for dealing with
“I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me
and heard my cry. He lifted me up out of the slimy
pit, out of the mud and the mire; he set my feet
put a new song in my mouth a hymn of praise to
our God.” I pray my family has a new focus to live
differently after this experience, to be thankful for
time we have together and to seek rest and guidance
before we get stuck in muck and mire again.
Ward Williams is the founder and executive director of
Vineyard Family Services. Contact him at ward@vfsdads.com.
Ward
Williams
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