It was a moment, a moment that I hope will change my children’s lives. It was a simple moment. It was a moment that I could have easily let slip away. I was on the couch reading when my daughter came into the room in the way that only 2 year old girls can. As she ran into the room she sang very loudly, “Watch me do flips, Daddy. Watch me do flips, Daddy.” My first reaction was to explain to her that I was busy reading and that I could watch her later. Instead, I dropped my book and turned my full attention to her. I watched her attempt somersaults about three times. I then told her what a wonderful job she was doing at ‘flipping.’ At that point, I thought the moment was over. I was wrong. She seemed to be addicted to my attention. The more I watched, the more flips she wanted to do, and the more flips she did, the more I was supposed to watch. After about the fifth series of flips I wanted to get back to my book, however, something inside me knew I was supposed to watch her until she was done; giving her all the attention and support she could handle. So, I did.
In that moment I felt the Holy Spirt telling me this is what my kids need most from me. They need my full attention in the little moments. I need to give them my undivided attention even when what they want me to watch are poor attempts at somersaults. They need to see they are the highest priority in my life. All of the little things in life that steal my moments can be put on hold. So many times I have dismissed what my kids were showing me. I have half-heartedly shown an interest in a drawing or a color page or distractedly praised the lego car they made. In that moment I was convicted of this attitude.
This “ah-ha” moment motivated me to change. I know God has called me to be a father to my children not just in the big moments in life, but in the little moments, too. I have to admit that I’ve been failing. My prayer is that, like me, you will take the time to let go of distractions in your life and grab hold of those moments with your kids.
