Being Needed

 I intended to make this post on Saturday, but ironically the title of this post kept from writing it. 

I got off work shortly after 5 pm and come home to my exhausted wife, whom I don't blame at all-wrangling a 5 month old is tiring work- struggling with the dishwasher. There was a blockage down in the drain and my assistance was required. So, between fixing the dishwasher, cleaning the kitchen and getting dinner made, my available brain cells had been used up, and instead of writing I sat down and watched Fiddler on the Roof. 

All drama aside, let's get to what I wanted to talk about. It is a joy to be needed. Now, this is not an open invitation for people to intentionally be needy to bring joy to others, because that has been proven time and time again to annoy someone half to death. 

When I say it is a joy to be needed, I'm referring to having a purpose. To clarify, your purpose is a task that has been given to you that you specifically are needed for.

It might be something someone else is physically able to do, but in that moment, you are the best person for the task. In the case of Saturday, my need in the moment- and thus purpose- was to alleviate a household responsibility for my wife, so she could fulfill her duties in whichever was leftover.

In the broader sense- fellow fathers, our unique purpose is our family. As fathers, we all have families, but no family is the same, which makes each father specifically tailored to his own family. It is a joy to have a purpose, yet it is even more so when that purpose is uniquely ours.

Fathers, take joy in raising your families, especially when you are all together, for before you know it your children will be grown and starting journeys of their own. 

Cherish each and every moment, including all the dirty diapers and temper tantrums, for what are these other than signs that you are needed, and so long as you are needed you will have your purpose.

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