7 Myths Men Believe & the Biblical Truths Behind ThemНамуна

The Myth: “I don’t have time for my kids because I have to work to provide for them.”

It’s got to be the oldest cliché in the world: Your kids will be grown and gone before you know it. I can’t tell you how many times people told me that right after my son Carter’s birth.

And, what can I say? They were absolutely right. All of a sudden, he’s eleven. And my baby girl is six.

Every now and then there’s a lull. Things slow down. Not for long, just for a minute. But I wonder if maybe during those times God is giving us a chance to catch our breath. During those times, all of a sudden I start to notice things. I look at my kids and think, Wow, how did we get here so fast? Where did the time go?

And then I feel guilty. I know I need to stop fixing cars in the evenings and on weekends. It takes up just about all my free time. But then I think, Are you nuts? That extra income is paying for things we need. If I didn’t take on side jobs as a mechanic, there’s no way Carter could go to baseball camp in the summers or we could take vacations every year.

Am I the only one who feels this pressure? I don’t have time for my kids because I’m so busy working to provide for them.

The Truth

Most people realize that time is fleeting, and they need to spend time with their kids now—before their kids are grown and gone. But often financial pressures make it difficult to juggle work and family commitments.

• Take a few moments to read and ponder 1 Timothy 5:8, a verse that spells out our financial responsibility in crystal-clear terms.

• Review your budget (with your wife if you are married). Are there areas where you can adjust your spending, so you don’t feel as much financial pressure? Try to come up with three things you could do to cut your spending so that you don’t have to work so hard just to keep your head above the water.

• Think through this statement: “I have a tendency to confuse my wants with my needs.”

• Is there a way to adjust your hours so you are available to spend time with your kids when they are still awake and home from school?

• Consider this: We really only have about an 18-year “window” with each of our kids. These are the premium years in which we will have the best chance to connect with them, to teach and guide them, and to impart our values to them. Ignoring this reality is foolish; failure to seize this opportunity will one day fill us with regret.

• If your work requires long hours, prayerfully consider other employment options. Radical? No question. But be open to change.