More Than That

Holly and I went to the staff Christmas party last night. It was the best Christmas party we've had in 7 years of them...except maybe the bingo thing. The best part is always when Robert gets up to talk about the previous year. It's still funny to me that people on our staff think it's funny that they don't get to be around him or get time with him. They truly don't understand and it probably does not put them in a very good light when they try to make statements (jokes) about it publicly and without a doubt it is disrespectful to Pastor Robert. I imagine Pastor Tom probably felt the same way I did. We are here to serve the vision that God has given Pastor Robert not to be his best friend, son, daughter or mentoree. We are here to serve. It is an incredible honor to be a part of what God is doing at Gateway...that get's forgotten sometimes. Anyways I digress.

Holly and I left a little bit early and went to Starbucks to get some hot chocolate and talk. It's so funny how much we have changed, how much our marriage has changed, how much I have changed over the past 7 years. We are so much closer. So much more in love. Much more understanding of one another. We try a lot harder for the sake of the other. We are more amazed today of what God is using us to do than ever before but we also care less than ever before about it. I think I was so interested in what God had "created me to do" that it got in the way of just being us. I really don't care. I won't lose my relationship with my wife or my kids to do anything viewed as successful. So many people around me have difficulty using their vacation time. Not me. Truthfully I'd rather be at home with my wife and kids. I hope that never changes. Some people make you feel guilty because you are not a work-a-holic but that's not God's plan...in fact it is against God's plan. When the church first started Robert set a rule that vacation time does not carry over from one year to another so that we would be forced to use it or lose it. That helped me to set a very healthy foundation for my time with my family. It is non-negotiable. No matter what. Being married to Holly makes me want to rush home and hang out with her. Being Rylie's daddy makes me want to race home and play the Wii High School Musical 2 karaoke game. Being Tyler's father makes me want to go home in time to play ball in the family room and wrestle in my bed and make sloppy smores together. Being Preston's dad makes me want to go home and hold him and kiss him until he cries and then I want to give him to Holly.

My life is more than what I do for a living. I don't ever want to be defined by that. If all people see me as is the Pastor of Seven and Young Adults Pastor at Gateway they are proving they do not know me. I am Holly's husband, Rylie, Tyler and Preston's father, and I am my Father's son.. Those are the roles I am most proud of. That's what I want to be known for.

Working at Gateway is just my job. Passionately pursuing, protecting, and providing for Holly, Rylie, Tyler, and Preston...now that is my life. And what a life it is.