I had an amazing night tonight with my family. Lilly and I swam together for a while. She giggled and we played. Next me, Luke and Ben played a board game we all enjoy (they creamed me in it). A bit later, after watching her snuggle and read a few books to the boys, my amazing wife and I just talked and genuinely enjoyed each other’s time. Then a few minutes ago my oldest daughter got home from participating in the Teen Court program (don’t worry, not as a defendant) and caught us up and joked with us about how things went. Soon I will go read for a while and then go hang out for the last bit of the night with Christina, who I really do love more and more every day.
Of course not every night runs exactly this smooth, but even the ones that don’t are all so incredibly worth it. Nothing is worth sacrificing times like these… not “very important” tasks at work, not possible promotions, not endless classes and volunteer work at church, not fun hobbies. I got home at 4:30 pm today from work. 1/2 hour later and I would have missed my swim with my own personal little mermaid. 1 hour later and no board game. 2 hours later, lost time with Christina. A little longer and I would have missed seeing my amazing daughter Trinity right when she got home eager to share her night with us. If I extend long hours of work over a lengthy period, soon even those hours I was home I would not be truly “present”. Really think about that for a minute… and then sum those blessings or missed opportunities over our lifespan… over the span of time our children are under our care.
God sets life before us each and every day… but it is always our choice, our daily choice, to take it.