Preperation for Fatherhood

     I have been blessed with two baby sisters within the past three and a half years. My patience has grown exponentially as well as my attention span and compassion. I have done way more complaining because of my selfishness than I should, but a short meditation, like this one, can always bring me back down to earth. I think about how much these little girls are benefiting my future in ways that I can't even see right now.
     One way I can see my future benefit is in the aspect of family leadership. Hopefully, my wife and I can wait until we know we are mature enough to raise another human, but no matter when we have a child of our own, I can confidently say that we will be a head above the rest when it comes to parenting. My wife will already have a motherly instict to nurture and care for our sapling. At that point, while most new fathers will be flailing their arms about in an ocean of anxiety, I could stand tall next to Mama and at least know what to do when she's on the phone with a prospective babysitter, handing me a ripe baby with an even riper diaper to change. I can subconciously pull from the archives different techniques and virtues I learned with the little ones of my youth.
     It helps that the babies in the family are little girls, because my sensitivity can bloom in an otherwise wilting masculine world. I will do my wife proud in our dating period when I can sympathize with her as if my very own best friend bought the same dress I was going to wear to our college's winter formal. My developed relational skills will hopefully land me the right woman, all thanks to the times I dealt with my sisters fighting over whether we'll watch Spongebob, or Ni-Hao Kai Lan.
     When I see Leah's eagerness to hug and kiss me, or Lindsay's elation at my return from a day at school, when I hear "Chin-Chin!" (Lindsay's version of my name), or listen to how Leah's day was at the babysitter, it gives me a sense of happiness that I thrive on. This feeling cannot be replaced by any amount of worldly possessions. These precious little girls will be huge contributors to my reasons for having kids of my own. And I'll be a pretty stinking decent father, too. Thanks girls:)
     I am leaving for college next fall, and I will deeply miss my little sisters. Although I will dodge most of the girls' unyielding storms, the good memories we shared will be savored and more will be anticipated. I'll come home over breaks to hang out with my chicas, in turn, brushing up on my manly compassion.

Having baby sisters: Just one of the fortunate additions to my schooling in manhood. Although it is not my job -- and I am constantly reminded of it -- to raise my precious sisters, I can't help but to know God is blessing me through them, in all omniscience that I will someday father children of my own.