Not that most of you care, or that you should care, but I had a pretty good day! Awesome time with my daughter this morning. Awesome time God in the afternoon. Awesome time with both my kids and the in-laws this evening. Good days usually mean I can withstand a little bit more pressure from the things around me, which means I can usually deal with whiny, snot nosed, rugrats a lot better. While there was probably no more whining today than usual, and while I had a spectacular day…I had no patience, what-so-ever! I caught myself all day long, “stop whining, stop doing this, stop doing that, knock it off, no.” And while those phrases aren’t bad to say to your kids…I often feel like it’s ALL I say. What makes me feel even worse is that often times, I feel like I say it more out of annoyance, than discipline. For example, my son loves to play with my iPhone. He asks me all the time to play with my iPhone. All the time I tell him, no. But not because I am using it, not because I can’t give it to him, not because he doesn’t need to play video games all the time (although this is a good reason to tell him no). I tell him no, most the time because he bugs me incessantly for it (you can all judge my crappy fathering now).

It makes me think, how much do I do for my kids own good and how much do I do out of my own convenience? Am I really looking out for their best, or am I looking out for what’s convenient for me?

I love my kids! I love them with everything I have in me. I want to watch them grow and flourish into God loving adults who make this world a better place because of their love for Christ. But I am afraid I am putting weight around their neck that’s not necessary…out of shear convenience for myself.

God, help me to be a better father…and do what’s best for my kids.

The way YOU have Fathered me!