“The difference between the chicken and the pig is simple; when we sit down for bacon and eggs, we ought to remember that the chicken was involved, but the pig was committed.”
– Unattributed, but often used (and TRUE) parable
On Friday night, we had a night out with just The Middle. No sisters to pick on, no sister to pick on him. Dinner and a movie, and a late dinner, at that. He was “starvin’ Marvin,” to say the least.
But he didn’t whine. He didn’t snark. He didn’t punk out. He laughed. He joked. He talked with us. He smiled.
And, so did we.
It’s easy to be focused on being a good parent to three kids — and I hope and pray that we are. But focusing on one kid at a time can be difficult unless we commit to each kid, individually. Leading a team can be difficult, no matter how focused we are on the team, until we remember that by committing to each member of that team will make us more effective for the unit.
Yesterday’s theme (Focus Requires Sacrifice) is related to, but not synonymous with today’s. Certainly in the parable, the pig made a sacrifice that the chicken didn’t. But when we sacrifice the un-important things to devote time and energy to the important, it frees up time and energy to really commit to the important things.
Friday night, it felt like we did something important, and we were, without any pressure to “spread to love” to the Eldest and the Youngest, who were safely tucked away at sleep-overs, focused on and committed to The Middle. Everyone had fun. Everyone smiled, laughed, joked and talked.
All because of a little focus.
I wonder how to carry that over to the weekend? To Monday? I wonder how much of a difference it will make when we bring a little more commitment to fewer things each day.
I think it will be significant. I hope we get it closer to right. And, if Saturday night’s Father / Daughter Dance with The Youngest, is an further indicator, we can. Now, what to do with The Eldest…?
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