Got her in the ear this time...

This morning, like every weekday morning, I stumbled back to our bedroom after I had prepared myself to leave for work. My mission was to stealthily slip past Abigael sleeping in her crib and give Samantha a kiss goodbye and tell her I love her. I do this frequently, and each time, because of the darkness, I seem to kiss Samantha on a different part of her face. I got her in the ear this time, and whispered that I loved her. The thought crossed my mind that whispering something 2 millimetres someone's ear probably sounds like shouting to them. Anyway, this is what I did - what I always do. Its just a natural thing that we do that I am sure many couples do all around the world each morning.

But today's kiss stuck with me. Not just because I missed Samantha's face altogether and then shouted in her ear. It stuck with me because I realized that the simple, routine gestures shared between Samantha and I are not enough to communicate just how much I love and appreciate her - how much I am thankful to have her as my wife and as the mother of my children. Don't get me wrong, these simple words and actions are important. Indeed, Samantha would realize if I forgot to say "I love you" or forgot to kiss her goodbye. What I am trying to say is that I have a problem.

My problem is this: I take my wife and my family for granted everyday. Whether it be because of everyday distractions or discontentment with some aspect of my life, I fail to acknowledge just how much I am blessed. I spend far too much time thinking about the future, longing for something to change or hoping that some dream will come true. I am a dreamer, make no mistake, and I have a lot of plans and hopes for myself and my family. And I work very hard to try to make these dreams happen. So much so, that I often lose focus on what is most important - the present. But when I take a moment to contemplate the bigger picture of my life, as I have done today, I must admit that I would not be willing to give up that which God has blessed me with now (my wife and kids) for any future dream or goal. This is not to say that I cannot accomplish my dreams in the future with my wife and children at my side. I wish only to be more content in the present - more thankful for the priceless gifts that I have been given. Samantha regularly reminds me of the need to slow down and live in moment. See, she knows me better than anyone - and she is right, as usual.

So to my beautiful wife and children and to the one who created them and gave them to me, I thank you and I ask your forgiveness. I challenge myself to be thankful for what I have here and now. For what I have in my family and in Christ is so much more valuable and important than anything that anything that I lack or can achieve…

A good woman is hard to find, and worth far more than diamonds. -Proverbs 31:10 (The Message)