Father's Heart Blog

A few years back I listened to a very whimsical audio book, called Love Does by Bob Goff, actually I have listened to it a few times already. Although you may listen to some of it an think ‘well that’s all right for you’ or think its a little far fetched and romantic. The truth is I like a life that goes a little far fetched and romantic and I happen to think my life has been blessed to often be just that and so I am trying to create even more of it.

And last weekend was just one of those moments for me and my boy – my big boy – my 5ft 8inch (probably) soon to be 13 year old boy.

So in the book, when I read it first probably 4 years a go I was struck by the idea of taking each of my children away for 2 nights to anywhere in Europe, a proper Daddy / son or daughter bonding experience a time of absolute blessing and attention. Our intention initially was to do this when they turned 10 as Bob did.

But due to circumstances and mainly Covid, we delayed the trip to when my son was 12. I am glad that we have, as he is a bit older, wiser, he will remember the time more into adulthood at this age. And of course it is an opportune time to mark the near transition from childhood to young adulthood (yes that’s right we are not doing teenagehood) my belief is that of the Jewish teaching that a boy becomes a young man at 13 and in this time between 13-18 he is learning from me and the other men that I promote and encourage to speak into his life how to be a man.

And so, my son’s choice of where to go together to spend this quality time was always going to be involving football, recently we whittled it down to Barcelona (though the Nou Camp is being repaired so – no) to Paris to watch PSG, recently Munich – to watch Kane. And Madrid – because its Real Madrid!

We settled on Madrid, for the city, the weather, and for the stadium and trophies. We were delighted too that 20 year old England star Bellingham was banging in the goals and leading the way.

So last Friday we bordered a flight Luke’s first one since he was 6, to Madrid, for 3 days and 2 nights in the sun and storms (we got caught in a serious weather warning too) the time together was fantastic, we spent the first day sight seeing and strolling around the city. In fact we took over 20,000 steps that day! We enjoyed our hotel room and late night shopping in the near by Spanish city supermarket. On the Saturday we went to explore a nearby park with part of the Berlin wall as a memorial in it, we went to some local markets and we got ready for the main event the big game!

It was so exciting queuing up to see the team bus come in, being in the Bernabeu for the first time and seeing the first game with their new roof on and Jude Bellingham’s first home game for Madrid, and of course seeing him score an injury time winning goal and jumping along with all the locals!

But ahead of all of that and ahead of doing the Stadium tour on the Sunday and getting pictures with the Champions League trophy (yes these are exciting things for football mad fans) the really greatest part of it all was the quality and quantity of time I had with my son. (We have done trips like this for the last 4 summers mainly camping, this was definitely up a notch or 50, and a heck of a lot more expensive. But it really was worth every single penny, I actually came back wishing I had spent more on him (this is something I am still learning to do, to be extravagant and not always count the cost) because this was one of the times to really do it, and I did. But I am excited to realise I can do more. (Watch out girls – when your turn comes lol)

The time having fun together, seeing new places, learning new things together, getting caught out knowing no Spanish together it was all fantastic and we have all those memories and experiences together – that’s the priceless thing and those are the anchors that I believe keep a young man close to his father on earth and in turn to his Father in Heaven. I wholeheartedly encourage you to make this unique one on one time with your children.