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Hey Dad,

Greg Peckham of Reeds, MO, has been crowned the Familyman Big Buck King of 2007. You can see his winning buck and one humongous squirrel at http://www.familymanweb.com/article/big-bucks-and-bigger-stories.

On a different note, my son Abe (6) reminded me that there are only 26 days 'til Christmas. That means there are only 26 shopping days to get your wife something really special for Christmas and 26 days to experience all the fun that the month of December has to offer dads and their families.

For a lot of dads that's hard—because we aren't fun anymore. Oh, we used to be fun, but something happens throughout the course of marriage and we often quit trying.

My wife and I see examples of this all the time. Why is it that when we see a middle-aged man and woman holding hands, laughing, and stealing kisses, we assume they're probably not married? We glance at their left ring-fingers—nothing. Yet, when we see a couple barely speaking across a table, we assume that they're married, and they usually are.

Even the other day, I made a food run, and as I stood in line a young couple stood off to the side holding arms. I tried not to stare, but they seemed so engrossed in each other. He was listening to her, smiling, and she was laughing at what he said. They looked really happy.

Not married, I thought to myself. Let's see what happens after they walk down the aisle. I wanted to say to the young lady, "Don't be fooled. He may seem fun now, but he'll change—believe me. I used to be way more long-suffering, patient, loving—fun! But I changed. We all change!"

I had half a mind to go over and poke the guy in the chest and say, "Don't ever change! Keep laughing, holding hands, smiling, and being fun."

But I didn't. Instead I poked myself in the chest and said, "Don't change, Todd. Your wife needs you to laugh more, forgive more, smile more, and be more fun. Hold hands more often, cuddle on the couch, listen to her thoughts, fears, and concerns more … Change back!"

Let me do a little Christmas poking in your chest, Dad, and say, "Change back!" If it sounds impossible, then take baby steps. Make it a point to smile more. Hug everyone in your family—twice. Ask your wife, "What sounds fun to do this Christmas as a family?" Then hold your wife's hand and listen and talk. Before you go to bed tonight, pray and ask God to make you fun again, like before you were married.

You 'da husband,

© 2007 Todd Wilson. Used by permission.

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