n�ture Family Room

© Fancy Photography

© Fancy Photography

It’s Already Tomorrow
Don’t wait to spend more time with your kids.
Their hearts need you now. BY STEPHEN KENDRICK

Too often

good things steal

the best things:

non-recoverable,

priceless moments

with your kids.

WheN m Y SoN GrANT was born,
a friend gave me some great
advice: “Enjoy him while you
can. If I could explain to you how fast
he will grow up, you would just cry.”

He was right.

A few days later, Grant turned three.

Early one morning, he scampered into my room and began his daily ritual of trying to convince me to play with him instead of going to work. As usual, I was rushing while he was

negotiating. “Daddy, I’ve turned over my cowendar and you can stay home from wuck today,” he declared, trying to sound like an adult.

“Grant, I have to go to work today, but I can stay home tomorrow.”

“But Daddy ...” he countered, “it is tomorrow!” I had to smile at his desperate attempts.

“No, Grant, today is Friday. I can’t stay home until Saturday.”

Didn’t he know I had more important things to do than play blocks on the floor with a toddler? As he dropped his head and slowly waddled out, he muttered, “Well ... maybe then you can come visit us.”

Ouch. I could hear the cry of a son’s heart needing his daddy, and I was the daddy he was needing.

A few days later, Grant turned six.

Regrettably, too many moments at home have found me busy while my kids have waited in the shadows. Too often the good things work their way in and steal the best things: those non-recoverable, priceless moments with our kids.

A child’s desperate need Kids depend on time with us. They find their security, develop their worldview, and discover who they are from their parents. Children form their understanding of who they are directly from their mom and dad.