ONE RED PILOT

My wife was out of town today. When I got home from work I had planned to do a big grocery trip to surprise her when she gets home. I won’t go into details but let’s just say I was there for almost 2 hours and leaving the store I had so much more love and respect for my sweet, patient, beautiful wife. Me+2 toddlers+Harris Teeter= more gray hairs wisdom…

if your married with kids…give your wife a day off immediately!!

nate

Most of my life, well starting around 14 years of age, I’ve wanted to be a rock star. I’d like to say I laid that dream down long ago but that’s not true. It hasn’t been until recently that something snapped inside. This “dream” that has been living in me finally left. I can’t tell you what happened or how it happened. All I know is I don’t care about it anymore.

What’s taken the place of that self absorbent dream is a new dream. I dream about being a husband and father after God’s own heart. Cheesy? Maybe a little…but I don’t care. To be honest there are days that I want to run the other way. It’s hard, I don’t want to give, I want to sleep in, I don’t want to be needed, and I don’t want to be responsible. All of those feelings can change in an instant. All it takes is a kiss on my neck from my wife. Coming in the door from work and hearing “Daddy!” from my babies. Having my son look me in the eyes and tell me I’m his best friend. Being the arms that make everything OK when they have a bad dream…or have a bad day. Being the one that 6 beautiful eyes look to for a sense of security and direction.

Tonight as Carrie and I were putting our babies to bed I sang their favorite song “Jesus Loves Me”. Nathaniel sat quietly, sucking his blanket, taking every note and chord deep into his soul. Ella was a busy body moving around the bed just happy to have us all in the same room, and Carrie sang along, smiling in relief that “her” time was coming soon. At one time I had dreams to sell out Central Park to tens of thousands. Today however, the stage of a small bedroom, packed with my 3 most favorite people, made me feel more like a rock star than Central Park ever could.

favor to you,

nate

I don’t know if you can tell (iphone camera isn’t the clearest) but the pictures above only contain little girls in ball gowns and their daddies in suits. There were no mommies there, and no grandmothers. Only men. Men who have recognized the importance they play in the lives of their daughters. This was my first Father/Daughter dance and most of the night I was fighting back tears. Not because of being there with Ella, although we had a great time, but because of watching these men put aside any ego or pride they have, get dressed up, and value their daughters by taking them to a dance. As I left I was filled with hope. Hope for the future of this young generation and the leadership they have in their homes. These kids have daddies who aren’t ashamed to proclaim the name of Jesus, won’t think twice about kneeling and praying with them, and will make their families a priority.

It could have been passed off as a “fun” night with my daughter but for me, it was an assurance that the future of the Church is resting on the shoulders of strong, humble, Godly men. Thank God…

~nate