Unexpected Moments of Joy
I was reading Paul Williams' And So It Goes article in this week's issue of the Christian Standard as I was walking to my office after picking it up in my mail box downstairs. Paul's article literally stopped me in my tracks. Paul tells the powerful story of an unexpected joyful moment he shared with his daughter at her wedding a year and a half ago. As I read his written memories of a stolen moment I stood still in the hall paralyzed by the emotions this imagery evoked in me.
Upon reflection on that moment with his daughter Paul writes, "We treasure in our hearts those moments you cannot schedule or plan, when grace enters a room unannounced and showers the moment with joy."
Like Paul, I'm a father who loves my daughter and--like Paul--I'm grateful for the stolen moments I've had with my daughter over the years and especially for the moments we've had on the ride to school for the past week.
My oldest daughter started school last week and I've had the privilege of taking her to school almost every day. We've been home-schooling my daughter for the past six years, so this is the first time I've had to drive her to school . . . and I'm loving it!
Each morning I get 15-20 minutes of uninterrupted time with my daughter. Just the two of us in the car. No cell-phone calls. No meetings. No interruptions. Nothing but time and conversation with my daughter . . . . and I'm cherishing it.
I have recurring thoughts during our time in the car . . .
"I love to listen to her talk."
"I love how she thinks."
"When did she get so beautiful?"
"God, thank you for giving Ashton to me."
"Lord, give me wisdom . . . I want to be the best Dad I can be for this amazing young woman."
"She's such a good person and I'm so grateful to be her Dad."
She talks about life, church, her friend Cassie, her dog, volleyball, High School Musical 2, we review for quizzes, and . . . occasionally she talks about . . . boys.
Boys!?!
Please, Lord, give me strength!
Trust me, I understand that family is a gift to be nourished, cherished, and protected. I minister with a church, but I understand that my first ministry is not to Christ's Church but to my family, because if my wife leaves me and my family falls apart no one will really care what I have to say--or write--about Jesus.
I have a clear purpose for my life. I know that God wants me to reach people for Him and help them find their way through Christ to their heavenly home, but I also know that he wants me to start each day with the people who live in my home.
So, I'm grateful for the privilege of 15-20 uninterrupted minutes with my daughter each morning.
I love it and I cherish this opportunity, because I'm not just taking my daughter to school I'm also bringing her home.
posted by Arron Chambers @ 12:30 PM
6 comments
6 Comments:
I know what you mean. I read that today as well and thought back to my two hard dates this summer ... May 19 and August 11 when I gave my two oldest daughters away in marriage. Where did the time go? I found myself flooded with emotions as I thought back to many of those "unexpected moments of joy."
I had the same joy for over 4 years...my son would ride to work with me for about an hour or so and then I'd take him to school. After work, if he was not riding the activity bus or at a brain brawl meet, I'd pick him up & bring him home again. GOOD TIMES!
I got really lonely in the car after he went to college. But now I have a three beautiful girls- a daughter-in-law and two grandaughters...
Aaron, have you ever seen the "Rules for Dating My Daughter?" Hilarious!
Todd and Freedbyjc--Thanks for sharing your moments too.
Freed--I wasn't familiar with the Rules. They are hilarious! For those who haven't seen them, here they are:
8 SIMPLE RULES FOR DATING MY DAUGHTER
by: W. Bruce Cameron
Rule One: If you pull into my driveway and honk you'd better be delivering a package, because you're sure not picking anything up.
Rule Two: You do not touch my daughter in front of me. You may glance at her, so long as you do not peer at anything below her neck. If you cannot keep your eyes or hands off my daughter's body, I will remove them.
Rule Three: I am aware that it is considered fashionable for boys your age to wear their trousers so loosely that they appear to be falling off their hips. Please don't take this as an insult, but you and all of your friends are complete idiots. Still, I want to be fair and open minded about this issue, so I propose this compromise: You may come to the door with your underwear showing and your pants ten sizes too big, and I will object. However, in order to ensure that your clothes do not, in fact, come off during the course of your date with my daughter, I will take my electric nail gun and fasten your trousers securely in place to your waist.
Rule Four: I'm sure you've been told that in today's world, sex without utilizing a "barrier method" of some kind will kill you. Let me elaborate: when it comes to sex, I am the barrier, and I will kill you.
Rule Five: In order for us to get to know each other, we should talk about sports, politics, and other issues of the day. Please do not do this. The only information I require from you is an indication of when you expect to have my daughter safely back at my house, and the only word I need from you on this subject is "early."
Rule Six: I have no doubt you are a popular fellow, with many opportunities to date other girls. This is fine with me as long as it is okay with my daughter. Otherwise, once you have gone out with my little girl, you will continue to date her until she is finished with you. If you make her cry, I will make you cry.
Rule Seven: As you stand in my front hallway, waiting for my daughter to appear, and more than an hour goes by, do not sigh and fidget. If you want to be on time for the movie, you should not be dating. My daughter is putting on her makeup, a process that can take longer than painting the Golden Gate Bridge. Instead of just standing there, why don't you do something useful, like changing the oil in my car?
Rule Eight: The following places are not appropriate for a date with my daughter: Places where there are beds, sofas, or anything softer than a wooden stool. Places where there are no parents, policemen, or nuns within eyesight. Places where there is darkness. Places where there is dancing, holding hands, or happiness. Places where the ambient temperature is warm enough to induce my daughter to wear shorts, tank tops, midriff T-shirts, or anything other than overalls, a sweater, and a goose down parka zipped up to her throat. Movies with a strong romance or sexual theme are to be avoided; movies which feature chain saws are okay. Hockey games are okay. Old folks homes are better.
We have a two year old daughter, and I am terrified of when she grows up. Reading blogs about daughters and boys scares me. I wich I could keep her little and cuddle her forever. I dread the day being seen with Dad is no longer cool. We are about to have baby #2 and it is a boy, that scares me too. What an honor to be a parent. I have learned so much about God from parenting, I hope I put my kids on the right path and point them to Jesus. I hope they look over my errors and mistakes and see I love the Lord.
Thanks for the reminder to cherish time with family. Love the rules for dating my daughter too :)
I've been driving my oldest daughter to middle school most days, just starting year three (8th grade). Sometimes (if I've not been the dad I should be) it's tense (like one AM last week). But most often - it's time to listen to the music she likes, and listen in on a few minutes of her swiftly maturing life.
Lois and I have three girls, and in the twilight of life, they are our greatest joy. The youngest is approaching age 50. (And her name is Joy.)
They love each other and talk across the country every day and meet once or twice a year.
If we need them, one of them will be here in minutes, the others will be here the next day.
Like their mother, they have a great ministry of helping the poor and the needy.
They are a far greater joy to us than 50 years of preaching, church planting, Bible College teaching and other great moments in Christian ministry.
You can see why we see great potential in daughters.
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