We All Need Restoration – Being Dad with Phil Lower, November 14, 2022

Restoration – definition
1. the act of restoring; renewal, revival, or reestablishment.
2. the state or fact of being restored.
3. a return of something to a former, original, normal, or unimpaired condition.
4. restitution of something taken away or lost.
5. something that is restored, as by renovating.

Restoration is the positive state of being and mind of having overcome a great loss. Why do I say a great loss?

Nobody thinks about being restored from the damage of losing your ballpoint pen or not receiving enough napkins in their Drive-thru happy meal bag. There comes a point, based on our individual maturity and psychological strength where a loss overwhelms us. Even if that event is brief and we come out of it quickly, the residue could still affect us or our relationships, business, or finances for some time.

That point is very unique and different for each of us.

Just as the definition states restoration is an act. When they were younger, one of the kids had spilled a small bottle of chocolate milk in their bedroom. They hid it until it for a couple of weeks until I discovered it.

I was very upset. They had done something like this before where they had spilled a bottle in their school backpack and soaked a bunch of things.

I made them clean it up and thought that was the end of it. So, I never said anything to mom because I was handling it.

Now when I discovered the carpet soaked in crusty, dried chocolate milk, I was extremely unhappy and they knew it. After I scolded them and explained all of the reasons why what they had done was wrong, I laid out their punishment. I took their iPad away from them until it was cleaned up, solely by themselves and only to my satisfaction.

If they slacked off it would only delay receiving their iPad back. I didn’t care how long it would take but they wouldn’t get it back for days if they didn’t get the problem solved.

Then, I told them they would clean it up and once they were done I would give them a high-five, a hug, and tell them that I was proud of them for cleaning it up correctly.

Afterwards I showed them exactly how I wanted it cleaned, and what my expectations were by cleaning a portion of it myself.

They went from crying and sad to determined to make it look as good as they could. And, they finished it in under an hour, even with my having them work harder on a couple of spots.

When they finished, I gave them their high-five, a giant hug, told them I was proud of their hard work, and took her to the store with me so we could spend some time together.

They felt so relieved and happy, they almost bounced in their steps. They had a feeling of accomplishment from being restored even though nothing was going to diminish my love for her and certainly not some spilt milk.

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