Midweek Break: Garbage Man

Hello everyone,

We interrupt the series on celebration to bring you a conversation I had with my middle son as he is preparing to go off to college.

We took him out to dinner the other night (just me and Melanie) because we wanted to talk to him about how he feels about moving away from home.

I asked him if he understood what we tried to teach him and to let him know that we were proud of the man that he has become.

In summing up what we taught him he said…and forgive me because I am tearing up…he said…

“It’s ok to be a garbage MAN, but it’s not ok to be a GARBAGE man.”

When he said that I said, “Yes! Exactly!”

From very early on it has mattered far more to us about the men that they become than what they choose to do for a career. Character over competency. Maturity over money. Compassion over cash. Faith over fortune. Tenacity over title. Roots over riches.

Now, I am not telling you this story to hold ourselves up as some examples of perfect parenting. I can just as easily tell you all the ways in which we have been found wanting.

I bring this up as a reminder to keep investing in the lives of your kids and grandkids. The words you say matter. The way you lives you lead matter. The influence you have matters.

When is the last time you have told your kid or grandkid that you are proud of them?

When is the last time you have said the things that mainly go unsaid until it is too late?

When is the last time you shared a God dream with your kid or grandkid of who God wants them to become?

The God dreams we cast for our children matter. What is that God dream you have for your kids and grandkids?

Now, some of you might be saying, “Yeah Paul that’s great, but my kids are grown, I don’t have much influence anymore.”

You have way more than you know!

Now, if you don’t know me very well I want you to know that I won the in-law lottery. My mother and father-in-law are amazing people. I could write a whole post (or series of posts) on them, but this is why I bring them up. They make every interaction with us and my kids count.

Whether it is birthday parties, dinners at their house, holidays, going to sporting events, or the myriad of other things they do, they always infuse their time with us or their grandkids with encouragement and love. There is a security and safety in their presence, and that is where roots are deepened and faith is developed.

So, what is your God dream for your kids and grandkids? Do you have one? Have you articulated it? Do they know it?

In what ways this next week do you want to infuse that God dream into their lives?

After all, at the end of the day, does it really matter if they choose to be a garbage person, just as long as they are not a garbage person.

Be blessed,

Paul