When we come home after a day or week or longer of being gone, we need to create a space and some time to prepare ourselves before we walk through the door at the end of the day. We need to prepare ourselves for children who’ve been bad, a late dinner, and a frazzled wife. We can handle pretty much anything if we are just prepared.
If we come home nightly, and things are going well at work, something as simple as an extra 60 seconds in the car before we go inside – say a prayer – ask God to give us the Grace to be sacrificial and aware that our bride and children are eagerly awaiting for our arrival. Be conscious of the fact that we are the head of this castle, and that woman in there? And those little ones? They are looking for our lead on how their night will end. Use this one to two minutes to prepare for it.
And if things aren’t going well at work, and we’re stressed and anxious, then consider stopping for 5 minutes BEFORE we get home. Is the Church on the way? Can we make a short visit and lay our troubles at the feet of the Sacred Heart? Who else to turn to if not Him? If the Church isn’t on the way, then maybe a cemetery or even a little parking spot overlooking a lake or river. If we stop and make this specific effort to change – change out of our role as provider, and put on our role as protector, and lover, we’ll see an amazing difference.
But don’t confuse this with stopping at a bar or meeting some friends after work as a way to unwind before going home. Simply put – DON’T DO IT! Our wives are desperate for our time and love. Find 15 minutes someplace to regain some peace, and then go home and take care of her and take care of your children.
And what if we’re coming home after being gone a week or two or a lot, lot longer? We’re tired and sore and worn out, and we just want (and probably deserve) a break – physically and mentally. When this happens, we just need to do our best to set that tired aside until later. We push through the fatigue all the time – we just have to push through it this time as well. It’s only a few more hours. We can do THIS!
There’s any number of things we can do – this list is just some examples. The essential in all of it is for us to pause, and emotionally and spiritually shift ourselves into the man that our wives and children need each night.
In His Sacred Heart,
Timothy