I just got back from a two-night camp-scouting trip with my son Zack. We had a great time. Zack enjoyed the camaraderie with other boys and time with friends from his pack. I simply enjoyed the time spent with my son and in seeing him have so much fun. As these things go, it was not all wonderful and at times I found myself getting impatient with activities that seemed to be thrown in for various reasons, an easy sign off on an achievement or a time filler while we waited for something more exciting to do, like BB guns! I caught myself thinking, "Not another craft" or inwardly lamenting over having to wait for 15 minutes in the food line. I finally caught myself and remembered one of my favorite verses, Deuteronomy 6:4-7:
Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. Deut 6:4-7
What was I doing!? I had forgotten that every moment is an opportunity for me to teach about God's character reflected through Christ! Zack didn't care whether he was doing a craft, shooting the BB gun or waiting in line. He was with his dad (walking by the way); that is all that mattered to him. Rather than being an example of discontent, I could have been teaching Zack about patience as we waited in line and gratitude for the work and willingness of the volunteers who put the program together. There was plenty of opportunity to teach about humility and considering others as more important then ourselves. Fortunately, by God's grace, I recovered and the time together was wonderful.
I am so utterly grateful that God has blessed me with a son who doesn't measure the quality of our time together by the activities or things I throw at him but rather by the mere fact of being with his dad. Though I'm sure I will fail at times, it will be my purpose as a father, to use every opportunity (walks by the way) as teaching opportunities to teach Zack of God's holiness, love, grace and mercy shown through His Son, Jesus.
Scout motto: Do your best. I'll try to remember that.