Saturday’s golf tournament was a reminder of why I hate golf and why I love it…at times.

I hate golf because I can’t golf. You see, golf is a mind game as much as it’s a game of athletic prowess. Sure, you need to have ability when it comes to swinging the club and if you’re out of shape then your game will show it. However, you have to remember that you are trying to hit a ball that weighs a little over 1.5 oz and is a little bigger than 1.5 inches in diameter. I can’t even hit an oversized softball! Add to that the fact that they want you to hit that ball on the “sweet spot” of the club you are holding. So here you are, standing on the tee box and you wind up, and with all your might you swing that club to hit that little ball, and what happens? That little ball only goes 20 yards and not in the direction you wanted it to go. Now I’m looking for my ball with the chipmunks. Yes, golf is frustrating, but I know some of you love the game and you’re actually good at it. So I’ll just stick to my once a year game.

But I also love golf. At least I loved it Saturday because I got to spend it with my boys. We were able to spend seven hours of uninterrupted time together and that is a rarity. None of us golf, so the three of us did equally well. One thing I remember about Saturday is that I haven’t laughed with Ben and Blake like that in a long time. Yes, it’s really kind of funny that three grown men who are in relatively good shape can’t hit a golf ball farther than we can throw the chipmunk that was trying to steal our golf balls. I guess what I’m trying to say is that we made a beautiful memory and nothing can take that away from us.

It’s tough when your kids are grown up, living their own lives, taking trips without you, and spending time with their friends on the weekend. As parents we expect that, in fact we want that. But if you spent too much time away from your kids while they were growing up like I did, you long to spend time with them now. That is the boat I’m in. I’ve asked forgiveness from my kids and we’re on track now, but I don’t get to see them like I used to. So when they come into town I try to carve out as much memory building time as I can.

Children don’t raise themselves; they’re just not good at it. They are not equipped to begin life without us. Children need parents. It’s easy for us to neglect our kids. Sure we feed, clothe and shelter them, but that doesn’t mean we’re raising them. They need constant reminders of the importance of God and our love for them. Making memories is one way we as parents can tell our kids how much we love them.

What memory are you making with your kids?

Grace & Peace,