Missed Opportunity

I had just finished sighting in my new Browning BAR 270 longtrac rifle at Bass Pro. While having the trigger lock removed at the checkout station, a young boy suddenly just appeared out of thin air. His eyes were wide with wonder and he was bursting with excitement. This was undoubtedly the first rifle he had ever seen that was coated in pure Camo (Mossy Oak pattern). What boy could resist being so close to such a magical gun? My first reaction was to quickly teach him not to ever stand in front of the barrel of a gun, even if the gun is empty. As I coached him to move to the side of the gun, I did not want fear to be the lesson of the day, so I asked him if would like to touch the barrel. It was still very warm after firing 25 rounds through it only minutes ago. As he touched it with caution, the warmth seemed to satisfy his curiosity and provide a sense of satisfaction with his discovery. He was impressed! I noticed his dad was watching from only a few feet away. Dad seemed helpless to capture the moment with his son. He could only tell the boy to "get back over here and leave them alone". What a shame. What a missed opportunity at making a lasting memory. Why are so many men unable (or unwilling) to take the time to see life through the eyes of their children?
Nurturing our sons and daughters is of primary importance in effective parenting. It's in the everyday happenings of life that we connect on a heart level with our children. Many men simply don't know how to do this, having been neglected themselves. It's the norm in our culture. Opportunities present themselves every day if we are prepared and fully engaged in the process of nurturing. It's simply about doing life together and having the ability to see life through the eyes of a child. In doing so, we find healing ourselves.
"There are a lot of people around who can't wait to tell you what you've done wrong, but there aren't many fathers willing to take the time and effort to help you grow up." 1 Corinthians 4:15 (message)