MAKING A TOUGH DECISION
The economics of putting family first can be
scary
by William Gonzalez
It was time to make another dreaded phone call
telling my wife that problems had come up and I wouldn’t be coming home
the next day as scheduled. I was thousands of miles away, yet I could hear the
disappointment in her voice as she tried to be understanding. She was used to
this happening, but it didn’t make it any easier for me.
For four years I felt the strain that my
frequent and sometimes unpredictable absences would render upon my family. I
decided something had to change. I chose to take a position that meant a
significant reduction in pay but would require far less travel and allow much
more control over my schedule. Doing what was right for my family — and what I
believe was God’s will — brought serenity and relief.
My father-in-law served as an admirable role
model in this regard. A busy doctor with his own practice for years, he made
the sacrifice of taking a much less desirable position as a prison physician.
In doing so, he was able to work a more regular schedule and be present to his
eight children. Naturally, the work environment presented its share of
sufferings, but he was home every day when his kids were coming in the door
from school. Steve Woods, in his book, Christian Fatherhood, remarked, “For our
children, love is a four letter word spelled ‘T-I-M-E.’” This resonated deeply
with my wife, who still talks about her father’s heroism with heartfelt
gratitude.
While changing jobs is not a necessity or even
an option for most, all of us should take time to evaluate the importance we
place on our work and family. As we consider the task of “balancing work and
family,” the word “balance” seems to infer a kind of equality. However, as
husbands and fathers, our wives and children need to be a higher priority. No
matter how much you pour into your job, in the final analysis, the day will
come when you are no longer fulfilling that position; someone else will fill
your shoes, perhaps even doing it better. On the other hand, no one can step
into your role as father. Pope John Paul II observed that “the place and task
of the father in and for the family is of unique and irreplaceable
importance” (Familiaris Consortio, 25).
At the same time, work and family should not
be looked upon as opposing forces. Both duties are part of our vocation as
fathers and a means of our sanctification. The Catechism of the
Catholic Church teaches, “By enduring the hardship of work in union
with Jesus, the carpenter of Nazareth and the one crucified on Calvary, man
collaborates in a certain fashion with the Son of God in his redemptive work”
(2427).
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In the daily struggle to do well in our
careers and attend to the needs of our families, we can follow some helpful
tips:
1. Put God first. He will give
you the grace to properly order your life. Research daily Mass times in your
area and attend when you can. If you have a long commute, try using that time
to pray or listen to spiritual books on CD or tape. Cultivate a devotion to St.
Joseph, who is both the patron of workers and our exemplar of fatherhood. Finally,
as the spiritual head of your family, learn to lead your family in prayer at
home.
2. Be organized and use time
efficiently at work. When at work, work! Stay focused on your task and don’t
waste time with other distractions. Avoid the “water cooler syndrome,” where
more time than water gets swallowed up. This will aid in your ability to
accomplish your duty and leave work on time.
3. Live within your means. I have
been asked by my co-workers, “How can you afford to not work all the pay
periods available to you?” The answer is simple: We are content to live with
less. This removes the inevitability of working overtime to pay for items that
aren’t necessities.
Meeting the needs of both work and family is a
continual challenge, but with God’s grace and a willingness to follow his will,
it doesn’t have to be a tightrope act.
William Gonzalez lives with his wife and their
six children in Enfield, Conn. He is a pilot with the Air Force Reserves at
Westover Air Reserve Base and is a member of the K ofC's Father John B.
O’Connell Council 14600 in Enfield.
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