So lately I’ve been pondering the responsibility that I have as a father. It is a great responsibility, one that I’ve not felt before now. My two sons, Elijah and Giovanni, continue to brighten our home as they are growing. The transition that we all have faced has been difficult at times but for the most part it has been great. Each of them has their own little quirks, much like my Cheryl and me. They like to have things a certain way and we like to have things a certain way. If things are not the way we want them then dissension is sure to come.
However, we are all learning how to handle the daily routines that each of us has. Every morning, my Cheryl wakes up at 6:00 a.m. She gets herself ready for work while doing a few chores around the house then wakes me up at 6:50 a.m. If the boys are not awake when I get out of bed then I wake them up so we can get our day started. Cheryl leaves the house at 7:15 a.m. and I sit at the breakfast table with my sons and generally have a cup of coffee while answering all sorts of questions that my seven-year-old has and while my two-year-old is saying something that we are yet to understand. After breakfast, I make sure that Elijah and Giovanni are dressed and ready to leave the house by 7:35 a.m. We arrive at the elementary school at 7:43 a.m. and Elijah jumps out of the truck (while it is parked, of course), waves at me, and then he stands at the door of the school, looks back at me, holds up three fingers and I hold up three fingers back at him. He is telling me that he expects me to pick him up at 3:00 p.m. sharp! After Elijah goes into the school building I pick up the sitter that is with Giovanni during the day. After dropping them off, I will either go run errands before I go into the office or stay and eat some more breakfast with my son and his sitter.
One thing for sure, we are all learning each other. There have been many laughs already and I’m sure there are many more to follow. There have been some tears that have been shed…by all of us. There have been sad times and there have been glad times. There have been teaching moments and some of them have been missed for whatever reason. And all the while, I’ve been wondering if I’m even cut out to be a Dad. I remember I had a kid in one of my youth groups that said to me, and I quote verbatim, “If you ever have kids they’re going to grow up confused!”
Huh! I’m learning that I have to study two fathers: my Heavenly Father and my earthly father. My Heavenly Father has established His testimony for me. My earthly father has established his testimony for me. My Heavenly Father has made Himself known to me. My earthly father has made himself known to me. My Heavenly Father has done marvelous things for me. My earthly father has done marvelous things for me. My Heavenly Father is my Rock, my Redeemer. My earthly father has led me to the Rock, my Redeemer. My Heavenly Father is faithful. My earthly father is faithful. My Heavenly Father guides me. My earthly father has guided me. My Heavenly Father has led me safely so that I do not fear. My earthly father has led me safely so that I do not fear.
I have a great responsibility with these two little ones. My prayer is that I will be like my faithful Father is to me. I pray that will be like my father who led me to the Rock, my Redeemer, so that these two sons of mine will know Him as they are known by Him.
D.J. Gorena 