One Real Story From Life
My son and I have a standing pact.
When we hit an agreed‑upon goal together, I’m going to buy the biggest tomahawk steak I can find, we’re going to grill it to perfection, and we’re going to sit down and enjoy it together.
We’ve had this pact for a long time.
We’ve talked about flavors, how we’re going to season it, how long we’ll let it rest, and what sides we’ll put on the plate.
It’s become one of those fun father‑son dreams that pops up from time to time.
But here’s the honest part:
We still haven’t eaten that steak.
We haven’t quite reached the goal we agreed on.
There have been moments where we’ve gotten close, moments where it felt like, “This might be the year,” and then life happened.
The goal is still in front of us, and the tomahawk is still only a picture in our minds.
We’ve had more than one conversation about it.
Sometimes my son will say, “Dad, can’t we just do it now? We’ve been waiting forever.”
Other times I can feel my own impatience rising. I start to think, “He’s trying. I’m trying. Why not just go ahead and do it?”
But a pact is a pact.
So instead of breaking it, we’ve used it as an ongoing conversation.
We’ve talked about why we wait.
We’ve talked about how reaching a goal together will make that meal even more satisfying.
We’ve talked about the difference between getting what we want right now and enjoying something we’ve actually grown toward.
If I’m honest, there are days when it feels silly to keep holding the line on a steak.
But underneath the meat and the grill is something more important: learning to trust that some rewards are worth waiting for—and that the process we walk through together matters just as much as the celebration we’re picturing at the end.
I am really looking forward to the day we finally fire up that grill.
Not just because I love steak, but because it will represent a goal reached side by side, one small decision at a time.
One Key Principle From God’s Word
This little father–son pact has been a reminder that slow, steady commitments can shape our character while we trust God with the rewards.
As we walk this out together, a few truths keep standing out:
- Commitments matter, even when no one else sees them.
No one outside our house is tracking this steak goal. But keeping our word—especially when it would be easy to quietly move the line—teaches both of us that integrity isn’t about who’s watching; it’s about who we are. - Growth happens in the middle, not just at the finish.
Every time we talk about the goal, adjust our choices, or encourage each other to keep going, something is growing in us. The process is already doing work in our hearts long before the steak ever hits the grill. - Shared goals build shared hearts.
This isn’t just my goal or his goal—it’s something we’re pursuing together. That shared pursuit is giving us conversations, inside jokes, and a sense of “we’re in this” that we wouldn’t have if we cashed in early.
For us, the tomahawk isn’t really about a big piece of meat.
It’s a simple, everyday way to practice faithfulness, integrity, and patience—side by side—while we trust that, in God’s timing, the celebration will be worth the wait.
Honest Reflections From a Dad’s Heart
Walking through this long‑term “steak goal” with my son has surfaced a few things in me.
- Waiting exposes what matters most to us.
It’s easy to talk about patience and perseverance when everything is moving quickly.
It’s harder when you keep seeing “almost” but not “there yet.” - Quiet goals can build deep connection.
We haven’t reached the steak yet, but we’ve had a lot of good conversations because of it.
We’ve talked about effort, attitude, follow‑through, and what it means to finish something we started.
Those talks are already a kind of reward. - Shortcuts can’t replace shared growth.
I could buy the steak tomorrow.
But if I did it just to make us both feel better in the moment, we’d miss the deeper satisfaction of knowing we walked the long road together and didn’t bail when it was inconvenient.
I don’t always get this right.
There are days when I’d rather choose quick comfort over slow growth.
But every time my son asks, “Dad, when are we going to do the steak?” I feel that nudge again—stay steady, keep your word, and let this be a living picture of faithfulness, not just a meal you rush into.
One Simple Step For This Week
To build hearts, homes, and leaders where you are, try this:
Keep one good pact—even when it would be easier to let it slide.
- Think of one commitment you’ve made—to a child, a spouse, a friend, or a team—that you’re tempted to soften because it’s taking longer than you hoped.
- Instead of lowering the bar, talk about why it matters. Take a few minutes to explain the “why” behind the wait, not just the “what.”
- Invite the other person into the process. Ask, “What do you think it will feel like when we finally hit this?” Let them picture the joy on the other side.
- Ask God for grace to stay steady—serving, showing up, and keeping your word even when no one is applauding yet.
You may not be working toward a tomahawk steak, but chances are you have your own version of a long‑term goal that hasn’t quite landed yet.
Staying faithful in the wait is part of how God builds steady hearts—in us and in the people we’re walking with.
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