Bible Study with my Dad

After sitting in on a Bible study session at church, Amanda Lauer found a new way to spend quality time with her father.

In 2017 I was offered an assignment with the diocesan newspaper that I write for to cover the story about a Catholic Bible study group in our area celebrating its 40th anniversary. I agreed immediately because I wanted to check out the group that my dad had been a member of since the early 1980s.

What I found when I stepped into the cafeteria in an old Catholic School was a collection of wonderful people—the majority of whom were Catholic, who were eager to delve into the Bible each week with a seasoned priest to get a better understanding of God’s word.

After sitting in on that first study, taking pictures, and interviewing some of the men who’d been part of the group since nearly Day One, I was hooked. Was it because of the insight the priest offered—having traveled to the Holy Land and walked in the footsteps of Jesus numerous times? Or the camaraderie between the members of the group? Maybe the deep questions Father astutely answered? Or was it the fresh-made donuts and other delectables from our local bakery offered at each class?

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Those were all worthwhile, but none of them were enticing enough to convince me to leave my house on a Friday morning at 6:05, especially in the dead of winter when it was freezing and pitch black at that time of day. No, what induced me to join the group and stay with it for the last five years has been the chance to spend part of one morning every week with my dad.

At my age, I realize that I truly am blessed to have my dad in my life still. So many of my friends have lost their parents. My mom is here too, but has memory issues and lives in an assisted living facility. I do my best to call her every day and get out to visit her once a week. My dad’s in great shape and may be busier in retirement than he was when he was working. I’m devoted to my career as an author and when I’m not working, I’m generally spending time with my husband, our kids, and our grandkids.

Bible Study gives my dad and me a reason to carve time from our schedules to be together at least once a week. We share a table and catch up with each other before and after class (and sometimes during class as well…). People talk about having quality time with another person vs. quantity time but I can say, from this experience, quantity time brings about quality time. I’ve heard so many stories from my dad about his childhood, his experiences growing up Catholic in the Bronx in the 1940s and '50s, attending Cardinal Hayes High School, and other memories from throughout his lifetime—things I never would’ve known if we hadn’t been spending this much time together.

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Bible Study gives my dad and me a reason to carve time from our schedules to be together at least once a week. #CatholicMom

I realized recently that I’ve finally gotten what I’ve always wanted from my dad. The gift of his time. When my brothers and I were growing up, he always held down two jobs to provide for our family. He’s one of the hardest-working people I know. When he retired, my husband and I were right in the middle of the demanding (but fulfilling) years raising our four children. Right now, my dad is still a busy guy—between volunteer work, trips to the casino here and there, hanging out with his great-grandchildren, and in the summer golfing every chance he gets.

My husband and I have become empty-nesters and we’re on the verge of retirement, but our days are still full as well. But both my dad and I make it a priority to be together every Friday morning. Interestingly enough, he’s the one who raised us kids in the Catholic faith, and our shared faith is what facilitates our weekly connection. This daddy’s girl can’t get more blessed than that.

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