Sage advice

One of the things I love most about my job as a writer, is the people I get to meet...and interview.

A month or so ago, I shared an idea with my editor that would spotlight different fathers in our area to celebrate Father's Day.  Once he gave me the green light, I started brainstorming ideas of dads to interview. I had no idea how this idea was going to take shape.  I had selected four dads, three of which I knew nothing about other than their occupation.

I must say that God directed me to some of the neatest fathers and blessed me with incredible interviews.  Every man was a man of faith....I didn't plan it that way...it just happened. The other thing that these dads had in common was that each one could be classified as "successful."  By that I mean, these dads have good, solid families and lead lives that serve as an example to others.

Is it any coincidence that the "success" factor and the "faith" factor are both present in each of these fathers? I don't think so.

With each interview I asked about lessons they learned from their fathers, what advice they would give to their kids and what makes their family tick.

The answers were shockingly similar.  Each father pointed to their values and morals being instilled by equally "successful" parents and fathers.  They wanted their kids to have the same philosophy in regards to character and morals.  And each father made it a point to impress the importance of minimizing the to-do list.

One dad, who has a very young family, said that he and his wife schedule time, like an appointment, to do things as a family that the kids want to do...like, building a fort or playing in the rain.

A dad who has three soon-to-be teenage daughters said that family dinners around the table are important and encouraged.

But with each dad I interviewed, the sentiment was the same....a 1,000 activities does not equal a happy home or a fulfilled child.  In fact, their advice was the complete opposite.  A more simplistic schedule meant, that as a family, they were home most nights and spent time together doing normal tasks.  And that it was in the normal day-to-day routine of being together that bonds formed, meaningful conversations happened and memories were made.

With this month being Father's Day and, if you remember, at the beginning of the month, I shared my commitment to praying for my husband all month long...I thought it would be important to remind ourselves that slowing down isn't a bad thing.

In February, my husband, Shane, got to be on the stage crew for the half time show at the superbowl. A lot had to happen in a very short amount of time.  Huge carts full of set pieces had to move onto the field and countless wires and cables had to be connected.  As the crew was preparing, the leader overseeing the half time show told the crew, "Slow is smooth is fast."  Meaning, go slow...that will equal a smooth process which will inturn give you a fast set up.  It's the whole, "haste makes waste," philosophy.  The same idea can work for our lives.
Sometimes slow is smooth is fast.