What's Important

   Yesterday I came home to one of the best times in a fathers life. My 10 year old daughter and my 3 year old son came running outside to greet me with hugs and kisses. I was also greeted by my 16 month old baby girl as soon as I walking in the door she gave me hugs and kisses as well.

There is nothing in this life that keeps me smile more that those kids. Those kids have made me a better man. I at one time did not even want kids and now I have three. My wife and I did not have our first child until our eighth year of our marriage. My wife always has wanted children. I just could never imagine the thought of it. I was and only child so I could always do what I wanted to do and never have to share my things or my time. I also was scared of what it would cost to raise kids. I just never had been around small children that much and did not know what to do with them.

 

Do you know God has a plain for our lives that we have no clue how his plain will work. God knew that I needed to be a father three times over LOL. He knew that those children would be a good thing for me. I would not change a thing now that I have them. Those kids make me laugh so hard sometimes that tears run down my face. There are times that they drive me to my limits. You know they are kids and that's just the way they are.

My kids have made me take a look at what's important in life. When my first child was born I was in denial. I was not sure I wanted a baby in the house the crying like to drove me insane. I did not know what to do with a baby. I was afraid to hold her and I didn't very much for a long time. I felt tied down I thought I don't have the freedom I once had. One day I was looking at that little girl and a thought came to me. That little girl is not here for you but you are here for that little girl. I was 31 when she was born and I had a lot of growing up to do. Well for 6 years she was the only child my wife and I had.

My wife and began to talk about having another child. I had told my wife that I didn't want our daughter to be the only child. When I was growing up extended family spend a lot more time together. I have a lot of cousins  and we got to see each other almost every Sunday. Being an only child I have no brothers our sister and my wives brother lives 6 hours away. So no cousins for my daughter  to grow up with. So now the man that wanted no children is asking God for another one. Beside that She need someone to fight with over our stuff when we are dead and gone LOL.

My Son was born and after six year of not having a baby in the house it was like starting all over again. 

The crying at night and yes it drove me insane. I went thru the whole denial thing again. I was 37 years old and my world was being rocked again. I really went thru about 6 months of depression. I had really no clue who I was and I was missing the best parts of my life. Sometimes I wanted to just run away but never could or would. 

There was a day that I had enough of feeling the way I did about life. I knew I had to change my way of thinking. I had to fall on my face before God and cry out for his help. I was at a point that there was no where else to turn. I would ask myself what's wrong with me. The Lord said to me: "This life is not about you." I tried to keep what the Lord had told me in mind but there where times that I forgot it.

My wife became pregnant again for the third time. All I could think of was how are we going to afford this. The daycare will be so expensive. What about cars and collage my mind was going wild. Told you I forgot what God had told me. Then something happen that change me forever. My wife had a miscarriage. Then I had that "not knowing how to feel feeling more that I had ever had before." I went home and huge the two children tighter than I ever had before. All of the sudden everything I thought was to expensive did matter anymore. I just wish this was not happening to my wife and I. The pain in my wives eyes was almost unbearable to me. We wondered how  we where going to tell our oldest daughter that mommy was not going to have the baby she was so exited about.  That was a big get over myself lesson I will never forget.

We had decided not to have anymore children. I thought at the age of 40 that I was getting to old to have anymore children. I didn't want to go to my kids high school graduation on a walker. Well before we had that took care of God had another plain. Just like God to say hey your not in control here. My wife became pregnant with our third child. I was  not in denial this go around. I was very proud to have a baby in the house again. The thoughts of daycare and collage and cars are there but God has it now. I pray often for my children about there lives and where the road of life may carry them. 

God gave me these three children as gifts. I want to make sure I value them with all the care I can. I often joke about when I get old my house will be clean and I can sleep. If you could see our house most of the time it's not clean there are toys and stuff every where. My yard needs cut and I get very tired from the lack of sleep. I have got to the point that those things can wait. My family is what's important! I use to say my child hood was the best part of my life I did have a great time back in the day. I must say this time of my life is the best part of my life. The Joy that those three children bring is AWESOME!!

Sometimes it's so noisy around my house you can't hear anything. There are times we have to tone it down  so my wife and I can have a little chill time most of the time that is short lived. There again I would not change a thing. They will grow up soon enough.

So if you have children love them- hold them- kiss them- play with them- teach them about God and  be and example to them. This is a one shot deal no do overs. I came to realize that I was wasting to much of my life on things that really don't matter and things I had no control over. That worry was a waste of time and a lie from the devil. The children of this world need love  and they need  our time. When your child says watch this may it a habit to really stop and watch. They really know if you are focused in on them for the moment or not. Those little moments make a difference and are huge to them. Let them know they are important. They may say are do something that will change you into a better person.

                                              I really shared my heart with this one. May God bless you today. 

                                                                                                                 Jefferey Maddox

I recently read and E-book By author and Andy Andrews called  "The Perfect Moment."

I recommend reading this book. Here is a link to his web site. http://www.andyandrews.com/