lessons I’ve learned as a husband, father, & missionary

Here are a few lessons I’ve learned as a young (emphasis on young) husband, father, and missionary:

1. Do the next thing in front of you - Balancing taking care of your wife, child, and job responsibilities can be overwhelming at times, especially for a job where you are constantly taking care of people. When I do feel overwhelmed, God always reminds me to focus on His presence in that moment, and to focus on the current task I am doing. Thinking of all of the tasks I need to do, or things I should’ve done, only causes stress in my mind and heart. Focus on what’s right in front of you, friend, and God will bless you with peace.

2. Lower your expectations - Now I’m all for dreaming big and working hard (those who know me best would agree), but if you’ve ever tried to do administrative work on your computer while wrangling a toddler... you’ll realize quickly just how inefficient you can be. On the days I have done this best, lowering my expectations, I’ve seen interruptions and requests from Skye to play as beautiful opportunities to connect with my daughter. I have found peace in not getting as much work done, because I realize life is more than just about work. It’s about family.

3. Enjoy - Sometimes I can go days with a moderate frustration about my life, wishing I had more free time, or was overseas already, or didn’t have Skye crawling all over me so I could finish this email (refer to last lesson). But when I stop and ponder on the beauty of my life, I am led to gratitude to God. And this gratitude leads to joy in my life. Joy for having a wife and a daughter and a baby on the way. Joy for the life I have—right now. Not that I had in the past, or that I will hopefully have in the future, but right now. Today.

I pray that these simple lessons I’ve learned would encourage you today wherever you are in life. And as I say goodbye to you all today, I leave you with a blessing:

Be blessed to do the next thing in front of you, focusing on the task at hand, not the one of past or future.

Be blessed to surrender your expectations to God, leaving the results up to Him, and not your own effort.

And be blessed to enjoy this beautiful gift of life you have been given, letting gratitude produce a joy you have never known.

Madison and I love you all deeply. Thanks for being on this journey with us. We couldn’t do it with you.