Happy Father’s Day, former procrastinators!
My own dad set an excellent example of self-control. He was highly disciplined about what he ate. He exercised faithfully, walking in the early morning while the street lights were still on. Next he went to the office to do paperwork before the day started (then he returned home for breakfast with us). That freed him to deal with customers throughout the rest of the day and to be with us at home in the evening.
He also built fun into his week. He planned cookouts, games, home movies, camping trips, fishing trips, etc. He seized any moment to play a harmless joke and to laugh. Oh, to be more like that!
Are you tempted to put off having fun? Do you set such tight boundaries for yourself or expect so much from yourself that you think you can’t “afford” to have fun?
That could set you up for giving in to temptation. We ‘re designed to laugh, enjoy life, play. When we push ourselves constantly, never taking a break to go get ice cream or walk through a puddle barefoot, we resist God’s design. Do what needs doing when it needs doing – work, play, or rest.
No matter how serious-minded you are, no matter how much you have to do, you still need a break. Do not put off having fun. I did for years and I tell you it’s counterproductive. It works against us and our productivity and our loved ones.
Some sober-minded men and women, I know have very heavy responsibilities. They take their walks with Christ seriously. They’re disciplined. And every one of them takes enormous pleasure in life. They smile and laugh a lot. They plan fun things because they see the value in fun. They step away from work.
Several things occur to me as I consider these folks:
- Though they’re the perfect candidates to claim “I don’t have time,” they carve out time for rest and play.
- They deal with their responsibilities in a timely manner. Therefore, they don’t carry the burden of responsibility every single moment. That gives them more freedom.
- Trust in the Lord enables them to have fun. They know they’re not responsible for making everything turn out right (a malady I used to suffer from). They know what is their responsibility and what is not. They know God is sovereign. They know He’s at work and the story is not over.
- They’re humble. They laugh at themselves and welcome others to laugh with them.
Thank you, Daddy, for setting an example of self-control that included a great deal of fun!
What fun will you have this week?
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