A Truly Satisfying Fishing Trip For Dad

Living in a coastal community, I know plenty of men who enjoy fishing as a hobby. They usually own either a bass boat or a center console, and they head out early on a Saturday morning with one or two friends, spending the day either on a river or in the harbor, while their wives spend the day with their kids. They use the latest gear, catch big fish and usually drink a fair amount of beer. Their wives support their hobby and like to see them going out with their friends.
There is another way, though.
We took one of our family fishing trips yesterday - one year old baby included. We put in on the intercoastal waterway and searched until we found an island with a beach suitable for a picnic. (We got up early, but kids being kids, we weren't out on the water until 11am.) We beached the boat, enjoyed our meal, and let the kids play in the surf and collect shells. By then it was 1, so we loaded up and searched out an isolated tributary where we could fish without being constantly rocked by the wake from passing boaters.

This was a trip for a Dad, not for an angler who posts pictures of his latest catch up on the wall of the local mini-mart. I went from youngest to oldest, baiting hooks and helping to cast. By the time I had Mom's pole in the water, my son had the first catch of the day. Once that fish was on the stringer and my son was back to fishing, Mom had pulled one in. There were six fish on the stringer when Mom finally insisted that I focus on fishing myself for awhile.
God smiled on our little trip. We ended up catching 23 fish - nothing fancy, just small croaker and spot (and two dogfish sharks). I caught the fewest, but I couldn't have asked for a better trip.

So how does this apply to the Little Way? As a husband and father, the best "little way" I can show love to Christ is to love, care for, and provide for my family. One way to do that is through togetherness. I take my enjoyment of fishing, a hobby I have had since childhood, and make it a family affair, just as my father did.
So a dad's piece of advice. Involve your wife and kids in the things you do, whenever possible. That brings togetherness and will lead to some wonderful "little way" days..