Time Marches On...

[Nahum]

Time marches on...

This thought has been on my mind quite a bit, of late.

More than pastoring, more than preaching, more than any professional or ministerial accomplishment, the greatest, and most consitent, source of joy has been the simple - yet profound - joy of fatherhood.

I have loved watching my children mature. I have taken pleasure in the sweet sounds of their giggles, the million and one "I love you Daddys", and being involved in every aspect of their lives.

I love my kids.

This year my daughter graduates. Three years from now my twin sons will follow in her steps.

Time marches on...

College is waiting for them.

Marriage.

Career.

All of the things adults experience.

Time marches on....


Please, someone a few years ahead of me in this process, tell me that the joys of fatherhood continue during the coming years?

[Cindy]

Originally Posted by Pastor Poster

Time marches on...

This thought has been on my mind quite a bit, of late.

More than pastoring, more than preaching, more than any professional or ministerial accomplishment, the greatest, and most consitent, source of joy has been the simple - yet profound - joy of fatherhood.

I have loved watching my children mature. I have taken pleasure in the sweet sounds of their giggles, the million and one "I love you Daddys", and being involved in every aspect of their lives.

I love my kids.

This year my daughter graduates. Three years from now my twin sons will follow in her steps.

Time marches on...

College is waiting for them.

Marriage.

Career.

All of the things adults experience.

Time marches on....


Please, someone a few years ahead of me in this process, tell me that the joys of fatherhood continue during the coming years?

Yep they do. College graduation, great careers. Marriage and then GRANDCHILDREN!
Your joy will know no bounds...... And grandbabies think grandparents are the greatest thing on earh. They think we are funny, and beautiful and put here just for them.

[ChTatum]

Yes sir, the joy continues.

[rgcraig]

PP it does continue!

It goes from them needing you for everything in their lives to needing you to be a part of their life.

They will always need you, just the needs change. They will need advice, they will need encouragement, they will need support (this never changes -lol) and sometimes they will just need you to step back and let them do what they think is best.

However, all the years you have invested in raising them will pay off because you start to see the choices they make without you are good ones!

It changes, but it stays the same.

[Nahum]

Originally Posted by rgcraig

PP it does continue!

It goes from them needing you for everything in their lives to needing you to be a part of their life.

They will always need you, just the needs change. They will need advice, they will need encouragement, they will need support (this never changes -lol) and sometimes they will just need you to step back and let them do what they think is best.

However, all the years you have invested in raising them will pay off because you start to see the choices they make without you are good ones!

It changes, but it stays the same.

It really hit home when my 17 year old daughter started creating scholarship essays on her own, and I realized she didn't need my help with them.

She's much better than me at it!

I enjoyed my children, I sat on the floor and played with them and I walked through the nature trail and showed them different trees etc. We had picnics in the backyard with p-nut butter sandwiches and koolade. I made up stories about heroes that had their names. While they were in school I would play some of their video games and then when they came home we would talk about the games. Their friends thought I was a cool mom but all I was trying to do was stay close to the children during their teen years. So many things that I did with them, and enjoyed.

Son got married at 18 and daughter got married shortly after. Dd's husband was a secret crackhead and it got worse. After he sold everything they had she came back home and we paid for her divorce. Now she is remarried and has a baby and I watch him several days a week. I see her often and actually overheard her say that I was her best friend. That is a great feeling.

I seldom see my son.

Grandson comes often and I sit in the floor and play with him and I sing songs to him and tell him stories that has his name in them. And we go for walks down the fire trail behind my house, and we have picnics in the back yard.

So time may march on but for me it seems to have looped back around.

But I do miss my son and his children.

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by Pastor Poster

Please, someone a few years ahead of me in this process, tell me that the joys of fatherhood continue during the coming years?

They don't ask for money anymore. That's one good thing.

[BoredOutOfMyMind]

Originally Posted by Pressing-On

They don't ask for money anymore. That's one good thing.

You ain't a Father.

Mine do!

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by BoredOutOfMyMind

You ain't a Father.

Mine do!

Are your kids still minors?

[BoredOutOfMyMind]

Originally Posted by Pressing-On

Are your kids still minors?

Solitary daughter is 21. She is asleep on our couch (their power went out last night).