I sit here tonight with a little one talking to me about nothing. She is just informing me how her day went, or at least that is what I think she is saying. My day has been busy, and I wouldn’t trade it for any if yours.

I woke up this morning and steamed two suits, one for me and one for Timmy. We wore black suits with blue shirts today. Honestly, we usually match the best we can and try and match mom and sisters with our ties. We then got all our stuff together and got out the door in time to get to Sunday School.

After Sunday School, I took all my stuff to the back building and got ready to teach Junior Church. Today’s lesson was about Psalms 23. I spent hours earlier in the week studying different Psalms, and I settled on 23 because certain words spoke to me in the text about laying down in green pastures. It’s funny because in Hebrew the passage actually says pastures of green grass, which is what got me thinking. Green pastures give you a thought of a green area of land. Whereas pastures of green grass give the thought of a lush piece of land you can take a nap on. This is why I chose Psalm 23 for this week’s lesson. I don’t want to rehash the entire lesson here, but I was truly blessed this week studying this Psalm as it is interesting to look at it from the perspective of a shepherd writing about being the sheep.

We had lunch after church, and I spent the time after lunch having a long conversation with Ellie about different positions on a soccer field and how each player moves. We did this with a table and some chess pieces. We spent that time in this discussion because after Saturdays games, it was apparent that she was not happy with the positions I was playing her in. While discussing with me and my wife what had happened the day before she let slip, she was upset she was the coaches daughter and should be allowed to play any position she wanted. I actually didn’t lose it on her because many parents do start coaching for this reason. Instead, we discussed what each position entailed and what her strongest suits were. In the end, I let her choose the position she would play. She chose the one I had picked for her in the beginning that she originally hated, but with the realization of her strengths and weaknesses, she now knew why I put her there and was willing to accept it.

We then headed to the soccer field where Ellie and Timmy spent the afternoon, each working on different skills. Timmy is ready to move from herd ball and learn to actually shoot with space. We spent a bunch of time learning where he needed to kick the ball and placement of his non-kicking foot. He started to understand but has lots of work if he is going to be able to play at the next level.  With Ellie, we worked, moving from the left wing into a shot and picking up crosses and shooting them.

Overall, it was a great day. If you had asked me a few years ago, what are your plans for Sunday. Teaching Junior Church and an afternoon on a soccer pitch would not have been a thought or even a possibility. Sunday for many years was my day off. I spent most Sundays with a wake and bake, followed by hours of video games. When I was unable to smoke due to a job, I’d have spent it drinking. 

I will tell you what I could easily pick up a joint or a 6 pack and have woken up today and said let’s forget the pain and let’s lose the day. I could just become a couch potato and let life pass me by while I wallow in self-pity. These are options I have. I could call my doctor tomorrow and ask for the pills that make me just zombie like, but man, do I feel no pain. I could take up a bottle and just lose myself to it. These are all options.

OR

I can continue down a path of sobriety and health. I can not only have physical health but also spiritual health. I can continue being the dad my children need, not the one they talk to their therapist about in twenty years. I can take charge of all the issues and problems and know that my cup does runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.

The options are there, and I do have them just like all of us do. Your choice will be one that not only affects you but also those around you. What kind of family life do you want your kids to have. What kind of options do you want to leave your child.