As I am writing this we are still awaiting the newest addition to our family.  Everyone in our house seems giddy with anticipation. None, of course, more than Jenny.  Though I’m not sure “giddy” is the right word to describe her eager desire to deliver this child.

You would think that after seven other children I would not be so unsettled.  To be honest, and it’s a little weird to admit, but I feel just as nervous as I did the first time.

Some people act like we must be professional parents.  They respond dismissively saying, “Oh, you have…seven…children? Wow. So, this is just routine for you guys.” Or they use the Gaffigan line, “Well that’s one way to live your life.”   I actually had one guy say to me, “Really? Man, what were you thinkin’?”

What I know is that every child is a gift from God that should not be taken for granted (Psalm 127-128).  Every one of our children is totally unique (Psalm 139:13-16).  Every day in our house is new, unusual, and often a fun-filled adventure (Ephesians 6:4).  Every moment is speeding by at sixty-minutes-per-hour (Proverbs 22:6).

The clock may very well be speeding by, and it is.  At the moment though, it feels like its standing still.  So I will keep doing what my beautiful wife and our new baby need me to do right now, pray.

If you are a dad, your family needs you praying for them.  They need you to be the “righteous man” whose prayers “avail much” on their behalf (see James 5:16).  With God, you can do this (James 4:8-10, 12)!