“Dad, can we throw the football?”  Years ago, when the fall football season was in full swing, this was an almost daily request from my youngest son during the week when I got home from work. It was repeated throughout the weekend, especially at commercial breaks when our favorite teams were playing. Depending on the sports season, weather, and the whims of my children, the requests could morph into “Can we throw the baseball?” or “Can we shoot some hoops?” or “Dad, wanna play Stratego?”

Translation:  My son was really saying, “Dad, will you spend some quality time with me?”

Like many of you, I lead a rather hectic life.  I run a small business, have a son with high-functioning autism, and am blessed to have a loving wife who needs me as well.  Since converting to Catholicism, I have been very involved in various ministries and serve on non-profit boards in my community. …