I woke up this morning with that feeling – the one about the task-list in front of me and the knowledge that there are already not enough hours today for me to accomplish what I need to to feel good about the upcoming weekend…
I had plans to hide-out at the local coffeehouse (my usual Thursday tradition) and get some sermon-writing knocked out. That changed first thing this morning when I participated in some manual-labor at the church to get our telephone-pole cross installed next to our pavilion. I was too hot and messy to feel like heading to the coffeehouse, so I settled into my office to try and “get work done”.
Just before lunch time, Jess video-called me and I was met with the tear-filled face of my lovely daughter, Ella, who instantly exclaimed, “I miss you, Daddy!” followed my another onslaught of tears. I attempted funny faces, funny voices, and “I miss you too,” but she wasn’t buying it… It took me all of 30-seconds to realize my daughter needed me (and I needed her) so I offered to take her out to lunch for some Daddy/Daughter time.
As I grabbed my wallet and keys I looked back at my desk and was almost overwhelmed, again, at the “pile” before me, but knew that the 5-year-old pile waiting for me at home was MUCH more important to me!
When I picked her up she was ecstatic to spend time with just me. She did agree to “share me” with a quick hospital visit and then we sat down for a Wendy’s Kids Meal and talked. And chewed. And talked.
We didn’t solve the world’s problems. We didn’t sort out the “why did you miss Daddy so much today?” issues completely, but I sure had a blast enjoying a sandwich across from my favorite 5-year old in this entire world.
I’m back in my office now. I’m experiencing sermon-writer’s-block and I can see the hours counting down before my next need-to-be-there appointment, and yet I have a heart-full of satisfaction that I chose correctly this afternoon!
A minute and a half of our lunch:
