Did you read them? Matthew 6 accounts the multiplication of the loaves to feed 5000 strong. And before Matthew we read in 1 John 4:
“My dear people,
let us love one another
since love comes from God
and everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God.:
This weekend was a very busy time for me. I worked until midnight Friday and Saturday. I was gone all day both days. I was gone Sunday afternoon and evening with Mass and youth group.
After coming home from work yesterday my sons just climbed on the couch and sat with Dad. Simply content to be a part of my life. Simply content with my presence. The love of our children is amazingly pure. My son Ben is five years old and he does not see evil in people. He sees love in everything. While he still, as a five year old, has his moments, the bulk of his time is happy and joy filled.
My dear friends, let us love our families and our children as they love us, since love comes from God, and everyone one who loves is begotten by God and knows God.
I think John would say this very thing to every parent. To spend time with our kids can be a problem when we do not properly order our lives. We can choose to yell, scream, punish and even speak hate to our children sometimes when all they need is our time. About four months ago a member of my men’s group, Jonathan, gave this advice when I described my son misbehaving at bedtime. He said, instead of getting frustrated and yelling, punishing, or fighting him, just lay in bed with him. Spend time with him. Because that is all he wants.
Time. Isn’t it funny that the biggest excuse people give about not praying is the same excuse we use about not spending time with our kids? Time is free, contrary to what society tells us. Spending time with our children is just as important as spending time in prayer.
To be Christian Dad’s, we have to honor and praise our Father in Heaven for His glory….AND…..imitate Him in our fatherhood as we lead our children to Him.
I pray that all of us make commitments to spend time with our children simply to show them our love. They and us will be better for it. And the world will change as we place Christ more at the center of our families.
St. Joseph, pray for us.
If you would like to make a comment, please fill out the form below.
Bob,
Glad to see you’re part of the Catholic blogosphere! I’ll be posting a link on my blog. Please consider doing the same, as I am constantly trying to add the fatherhood aspect into my writing (at least some of the posts). We (you, me, and another friend of mine) ought to consider some sort of “Catholic Dad” seminar. God bless!