The other day a dad thanked me for commanding him to be mediocre. During a recent sermon, I had asked him and all the other fathers in church to stand up for the congregation to see. Then I ordered them, in Jesus’ name, to be mediocre at their careers/jobs.

Does that seem like a weird thing to say during worship? I didn’t think so. Because I wanted to give those fathers the time needed to be rock stars at home. Paul wrote, “Husbands, love your wives,” and a chapter later, “Fathers . . . bring [your children] up in the training and instruction of the Lord” (Ephesians 5:25; 6:4). 

If there’s one thing I’ve learned about being a husband and a father is that you cannot microwave relationships. As much as I love phone-free quality time, I know that quantity time is necessary too. Some of the best moments with my wife and daughters come unplanned, as we talk during family dinner or make impromptu plans on a task-free Sabbath day. But those moments never happen unless I say no to the endless stream of emails, invitations, and opportunities at work.

What I love about our Father in heaven is that he always has time for me. Time to listen. Time to speak. Time to love. Don’t you love that about him too? I pray that every father could give a little glimpse of our Father’s heart with the quantity time he invests at home.