| Matthew 6:9 – “Our Father, who art in heaven…” |
Sunday evening, our son Jackson told me he was going to stay home on Tuesday night this week so we could spend time together. He normally goes out on Tuesday evening. My wife has a ladies event on Tuesday night, so it is a guys only night for he and I. I was glad to hear it. We decided we could watch our college basketball team play in the Big 12 Big East Challenge.
On Friday evening, I met my wife at Kroger after work, and noticed a package of ribeye steaks on sale, as they were about to hit their expiration date. Three steaks for $17. A good deal. We put them in the freezer. Yesterday, I texted Jackson and asked him to take the steaks out of the freezer and switch them to the fridge. Me: “We can eat them tomorrow night.” He: “I can’t wait!” I distinctly remember this moment from maybe 10 years ago. I had a job at that time where I was working 75-80 hours a week. I was only home long enough to eat dinner and flop into bed. I would be up at 4:50 am to do it again, out the door at 6 AM, at my desk at 6:30, and sometimes go until 8:30 or 9 PM. I left that job after 6 months. I did not want to live that way.
Maybe the first Saturday after I quit, Jackson, 15, asked me if I was going to be home all day, and I said that I was. He responded with “Alright!” I was surprised. I really didn’t think it mattered to him if I was home or not. I was mistaken in my thinking about something. I thought that I had to do something wonderful to be a good dad. But I know different now. The key for me is two words. “Be there.”
Tonight, I grilled the steaks, three of them. We each had one and a half. They were good. I fixed mashed potatoes (instant) and western beans (out of a can) to go with them. While we ate, we watched our basketball game. We talk a little, but not like when Mom is here. Guys can just be together and still have a good time. The dialogue might be light, but it is enough. Steak, potatoes, beans, and basketball. That is a good guys night. We cleaned up the kitchen at halftime.
I don’t worry about being a big league dad. But it felt like a big league evening. I just try to “be there.” Tonight, I was. And so was Jackson. Someday, I may be a widower, sitting in my room, alone, and hoping someone will come and see me. Good reason to be there now at this juncture in my life.
Father in heaven, thank You for showing me how to be a father, in Jesus’ name, Amen!
-Jeff Beall
