One thing that we learn as we get older is that life is short. It seems we should know this when we’re young, but it’s the nature of youth to assume that life lasts forever and all good things will remain with nothing changing. I know when I was 18, it seemed like I had lived a lifetime, but now that I’m slightly older, the years whizz by so quickly. Do I have regrets about things I wish I had done differently and people I should have valued more? I do. I think everyone does. I guess the important thing is to realize it while you can and try to do right by the people you love. Fortunately, as we get older, we have this insight into the ways of youth and remember our own youth, so we’re patient with young folks. The story below is fictional, but it’s meaningful and something people need to read. Enjoy this story, and make the most of life while you have it.
This daughter may have taken for granted the time that he spent with her father. She was certainly busy with life and many things. One cannot argue that she was just wasting her time.
And yet, time has a funny way of changing form, transforming, and mutating. Once you have all the time in the world, and the next thing you know, all that time is completely gone. Don’t let time slip you by.
When I was a little girl, I remember that when my dad was repairing something, every time he asked me to hold the hammer, just so we would have time for a conversation with each other. I never saw my dad drinking or taking a night out with the boys, all he did after work was taking care of his family.
I grew up and left home for college and since then, my dad had been calling me every Sunday morning, no matter what. And when several years later I bought a house, my dad was painting it by himself for three days in the 8o-degree summer heat. All he asked was to hold his paintbrush and talk to him. But I was too busy in those days, I did not find any time for a conversation with my dad.
Four years ago, my dad was visiting me. He spent many hours putting together a swing set for my daughter. He asked to bring him a cup of tea and have a talk with him, but I had to prepare for a trip that weekend, so I did not have time for any long conversations that day.
One Sunday morning we had a telephone talk, as usual, I noticed that my dad had forgotten some things that we discussed lately. I was in a hurry, so our conversation was short. A few hours later that day came a call. My father was in a hospital with an aneurysm. Immediately I bought a ticket for a flight and on my way I was thinking about all the missed occasions to have a talk with my dad.
By the time I have arrived at the hospital, my father had passed away. Now it was he who did not have time for a conversation with me. I realized how little I knew about my dad, his deepest thoughts and dreams.
After his death, I learned much more about him and even more about myself. All he ever asked me was my time. And now he has all my attention every single day.
MAKE TIME FOR THE IMPORTANT THINGS IN LIFE WHILE YOU STILL HAVE TIME.
