A Father’s Heart

Part of Rich’s current work involves quite a bit of travel. For Sienna, our two-year-old daughter, this can be tricky to understand. Sometimes Daddy is here consistently to get her up and dressed in the morning, play, count with and shout bird together and sometimes he isn’t. Sometimes he bounces her down the stairs to breakfast tickles her feet as she giggles hysterically and other times he’s not and it’s just her and Mummy.

Rich is an extremely hands-on Father and he loves both Sienna and me very much and very well. Each parent has their own sacrifice to make when raising children.  For Rich, in this season, as he travels to earn money to keep our family, he is not always being present in the daily routine. Despite enjoying his work, he desperately misses us when he’s away and we both do our very best to keep him in Sienna’s mind. We video call and look at pictures and talk about and pray for Daddy. Whether Sienna is in a stinky mood or full of excitement to see him walk through the door on his return, he still loves her consistently.

Watching Rich pursue Sienna over and over again not only sets her up for high expectations in a future spouse but also I believe reflects the heart of a loving God who so desperately loves his children. Time and time again God pursues us, is patient with us and is faithful in His love for us despite how we might receive Him. And, just as Rich loved Sienna first and initiated their relationship before she was even aware of what a ‘Daddy’ was, so our heavenly Father also first loved us. Before we even knew of His existence, He spoke ours into being. He chose us to be His own and He set into motion Heaven’s plan.

Sometimes it might feel like God is distant, but be encouraged that He’s already put so much groundwork in so that we need not doubt His heart towards us. The famous John 3 v 16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son” is the foundation on which we pin our faith and the good news of the gospel. We can find assurance in the lengths He’s gone to in order to make clear to us the pursuit of His heart. Us. Even death wasn’t too much for Him! 

This work season won’t last forever and as Sienna’s language and comprehension improve, she will be able to understand where he is and that his love for her is consistent regardless of his location. He’s laid a strong foundation already in her short life so that when he calls she’s excited to see her Daddy. Whilst she can’t quite grasp why he’s trapped inside my phone, she recognises his face and his voice. With increased age, they will be able to have regular conversations and their relationship will continue to grow. He will never stop pursuing her with his Father’s heart. Whenever she stops to think of her Daddy, she will know him as available loving and consistent based upon her experience of him regardless of whether she can see him or not.

Whether or not you have a consistent and loving earthly Father or not I pray you’d know you have a Heavenly one Who is always on speed dial.

 

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Mums In Leadership Interview

I had the pleasure of interviewing my good friend Joanna Adeyina as part of the ongoing conversation around Why Mums Make Great Leaders. 

Watch time: 25 mins 

Grab a cup of tea (I’m British!) and a biscuit and have a watch. Find out what Joanna thinks about being a mum and a leader, how it’s made her better, the challenges it brings and her favourite parenting tips – because we all love a good life hack!

Joanna is a wife, mum, actress, presenter, author and children’s entertainer. She leads in three main spheres of life, in the home with her husband, in her career and at church. You can check out her website here: www.itsjoanna.co.uk

I’d love to hear your thoughts on the topic and you can catch up on previous posts and the introduction to the series here: Why Mums Make Great Leaders

 

6 Funny Things Parents Do

6 Funny Things Parents Do 

Just for fun, 6 things parents do that you don’t imagine you will until you have kids! No judgement, we’re all in this together!

1.

Until you’re a parent (unless you’ve worked with children) changing your voice to talk to a child is unusual. BUT lo and behold, as soon as that cute little bundle of joy (and poop) pops (if only) out it’s straight to the “baby voice”. There’s something about those cute little munchkins that makes us want to speak like we’ve emptied the helium balloons at the end of a party.

2.

Suddenly life has turned into a musical (much to my secret pleasure), and everything just seems to run smoother when we sing things…. “this is the way we brush our hair, brush our hair, brush our hair…”

3.

You finally get a night off together, you dress up or at least clean your teeth and brush your hair and there are zero nappies in sight. You’ve left the cherubs in good hands and a glass of wine has been ordered. Then it happens, one of you remembers a funny or not so funny anecdote from the day and the date code is broken! You both check your phones, no word, “we hope they’re ok?” Lol! I wouldn’t change a thing!

4.

Guilty! Not only do we think every photo is worth posting even though it looks exactly the same as the previous twelve we’ve shared with everyone else, but after we breathe a sigh of relief that they’ve finally gone to bed, we open up the ‘cloud’ and re-watch everything all over again!

5.

Yep, well…. it is what it is! Totally gross, until you have a child and then you totally get it! I can’t stand to see the snotty nose and if it’s inhibiting some free air flow for the poppet, well you do what you gotta do! Obviously, a tissue or wipe is preferable, but on the odd occasion, not available

6.

In private or in public you just lift that bottom up and have a good nasal inhale! In no other circumstance unless you’re a dog is this acceptable! It does, however, bring relief when you’re in some kind of soft play, rhyme time or another social baby group when you realise the culprit of the stench is not your child (this time)!