麻豆约拍

Matt Woodcock, Church of England Pioneer Minister and Mission Supporter in the Diocese of York:

So, Chris, you asked me recently what it was like being a dad to twins.
Well, I鈥檓 happy to say that for most of the time it鈥檚 a life-giving joy and privilege - albeit an exhausting one.

However - I鈥檝e got be honest - just lately it鈥檚 been challenging. To put it mildly. Introducing them to my friend鈥檚 little Shih Tzu dog was a huge error. It鈥檚 all they now talk about. It鈥檚 all they want in life. In a relentless pincer movement, I鈥檓 bombarded with the same question over and over again: 鈥楧addy, can we get one - pleeease?!鈥� Twin One asks. I tell her 鈥榥o鈥�.听 Then Twin Two asks. I tell her 鈥榥o鈥�.听 Then they ask in unison. And I tell them both 鈥榥o鈥�.听 Then it starts again.

No amount of threats to turn off the Greatest Showman soundtrack or stop their pocket money seems to do any good.听 My resolve is weakening.听 The trouble is our last attempt at getting them pets was traumatic.听 Maisie and Daisy the goldfish were a delight - for the three days that they lived. Thankfully, that wasn鈥檛 the case for my mum鈥檚 precious cat LouLou. She passed away a few weeks ago at the ripe old age of 22 - that鈥檚 104 in feline years.听 In that time, mum鈥檚 lap was rarely without LouLou draped over it. No matter what kind of day she was having, what sort of mood she was in or what burdens she carried, the cat was always there for her.

Available and affectionate. Demanding little, but always offering so much.听 A constant source of gentle comfort, playfulness and unwavering loyalty.听 As a too often selfish human and always work in progress Christian, I find these inspiring qualities to strive for. Reminders of Christ鈥檚 message to bless others without conditions. As Mother Teresa put it: 鈥業ntense love does not measure, it just gives.鈥�

In practice, I鈥檓 learning that giving without expecting something back - be it time, resources or comforting words - is often the most rewarding challenge of each new day. That said, one thing I won鈥檛 be giving any time soon is a dog to those twins of mine.听听 Our home is not ready for a Shih Tzu. As a compromise, we鈥檙e looking after a friend鈥檚 gerbils next week. What could possibly go wrong, Chris?

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