We had a little bit of snow this weekend. The weather teams on TV were calling for serious snow, mad chaos, and the end of the world (practically), but it ended up being almost nothing. However, the driveway still needed to be cleared so I bundled up and headed outside with the boys for some fun. I don’t know what it is about the winter months but I actually look forward to going out in the cold and shoveling the driveway. Maybe its the sense of accomplishment I feel afterwards. I enjoy it so much that if I get out there before my two next door neighbors, I shovel for them too.

After I got outside with the kids, something happened that gave me the warm fuzzies. Something that I think you can only experience when you are a parent. In a recent sermon I gave at CCV I spoke about the challenges of being a dad. Our kids pick up on so much that we do and it can be challenging when you see your child acting out your bad habits before your very eyes! But there is hope. The good thing is that they also pick up on the good stuff. Especially when we make it a point to teach them.

I went outside first to move the car, grab the shovels, and find the rock salt (which I learned we ran out of), while Shelli finished bundling up the kids. Shortly after getting started Michael ran out and said, “Daddy! I help!” Not only did my 3 year old not want to miss out on the snow but he didn’t want to miss out on a chance to help. Even after he had just finished cleaning up the mega blocks I asked him to pick up in the living room before coming outside. No complaints, no whining, no procrastinating. Just a genuine desire to help and get the job done. It reminds me of Proverbs 22:6,

After I finished the driveway with Michael and AJ we went for a walk in the snow. As I looked back on the cleared blacktop, the finished product didn’t mean near as much as the work we have been doing as parents. It was such a good feeling to see our kids picking up on the good stuff and I can’t wait until we get some more snow and I get to do it all again!