So I just love to blog about my kids, because their hearts and perspectives teach me so much.
Last weekend I had the honor to hang-out at Lifepoint Church in Fredericksburg, VA with one of the America’s emerging young Christian leaders, Pastor Daniel Floyd. We were actually in the same dorm and on the same hall at Liberty University for a year back in 1997. His church is incredible. Six years old, still meeting in a school, and over 3000 people for Easter this year and weekly attendance fast approaching an average of 2,000 people.
Anyway, the church we visited was only about an hour from Washington D.C., and because the kids were out of school we took them with us to see this church. We had a few extra hours Saturday before dinner and a few hours Sunday night after church and Monday before we flew home so we took the kids on a quick tour of D.C. We saw the Lincoln Memorial, Jefferson Memorial, Washington Monument, walked by the White House, went to Ford’s Theatre where Lincoln was shot, and spent some time at the American History Museum where the top hat that Lincoln wore the night he was shot is on display, along with all kinds of items from George Washington to current. It was all REALLY cool.
When we finally landed in Kansas City after our trip I asked the kids what their favorite part of the trip was. To my surprise, they answered in unison: “The swimming pool at the hotel!” What they were referring to was the 10 ft. by 8 ft. Fairfield Inn Hotel pool that they swam in for 15 minutes. I couldn’t believe it. I had walked my rear off in 100 degree D.C. to show them the monuments, and they had the most fun at the swimming pool! Oh well, I guess the small things in life are important too.
Actually, Christian told me that “our judging his jumps” into the pool was his favorite part. He and Kasey took turns doing cannonballs, twists, flips, and split jumps into the pool, and Danielle and I judged each one. [SIDENOTE: After not giving the kids more than a “9” on any of their first 15 jumps Christian told me I was like Simon Cowell and nothing was ever good enough for me – go figure???] All that I worked to show them as a parent, trying to create memories – and what they remembered most was just hanging out, laughing, jumping in and out of a pool the size of a bathtub.
Remember the small things – because “life” is in them, and memories are in them. As King Saul fell, the prophet Samuel made an interesting comment to him. He told him, “When you were small in your own eyes…” (I Sam. 15:17). In other words, “when the little things were important to you…you had your focus right.” Don’t forget the little things, or the “little people” in your life – because that might be where the best life resides!
Thanks again, kids, for the sermon to your dad!