I start most mornings the same way: I wake up, pour coffee, read my devotional, and then try to do some reading for my next sermon. Fast forward to breakfast time before work, and I have the same breakfast most mornings alongside my family. Each morning, my breakfast consists of two eggs, 3 pieces of organic chicken sausage, and a slice of my wife’s homemade sourdough bread.
You may have heard it said that variety is the spice of life. While one would say there is some truth to this, one would also say that having the same breakfast most mornings is boring and monotonous.
While the world would clearly disagree, Godly men must recognize the great blessing comes from the monotonous, boring day to day of caring for your wife, working your job unto the glory of God, and spending every moment you can with your kids. I hope the sarcasm comes through here, as it should be seen as a huge blessing to be able to care for your wife, do your job, and spend time with your kids.
In the same vein, eating the same breakfast each day shows that God has blessed me with a breakfast to have each day. And not only am I blessed with food on my table, but I am blessed with a simple process for breakfast each day that maximizes time with my family.
What the world calls monotonous, I call immense blessing beyond belief.
The world wants you to think that everything you do is bombastic and epic. The world wants you to desire amazing experiences. The world wants you to forsake a “rough” life of having the privilege of getting on the floor to play with your child, in order to chase after a life where you get to do things that are social media worthy or a grand story to share with others.
We must fight this mentality.
The Lord has designed us in such a way that we are to live for Him and not for ourselves. The Gospel should change our desires to be focused on living honorably before Him. The Gospel should change our desires to be for others, rather than ourselves. The Gospel should change us to desire time with our wife and kids, rather than time with our self.
One of the aspects of biblical masculinity is recognizing God’s blessing in what the world calls boring.
You embrace your biblical masculinity when you recognize that waking up each day to spend time with your family is one of the chief blessings found in this life. Ask parents who have lost a child, they will tell you that they wish they could just have one more day to see their lost child. Brother, the world tempts us to complain and bemoan going home to our kids. The world tells us that you worked hard at your job, and when you get home you should get to rest. What a silly thought!
Men need to understand that no matter how hard of a day you had at work, when you get home, the entire household will reflect the manner in which you walk through the door. Fathers are the ones who bring mirth to the home! Brother, just think how many men wish they had a family to come home to!
Don’t misunderstand God’s blessings. Don’t day dream for amazing life experiences when you have the privilege to sit next to a covenant child and box of legos. Don’t day dream for fantastical meals when you have the privilege to sit next to your wife, child, and a meal you have eaten countless times.
God’s greatest blessings are the ones we take for granted. Don’t buy into the world’s understanding of “having it all”, rather hold fast to God’s word and recognize that those who finish well are the ones who recognize the blessings of God found in the ordinary parts of life.
Ken Wojnarowski is the Assistant Pastor at First Church PCA in Lansing, IL.
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