It's already the middle of June, Father's Day weekend. Can you believe it? Isn't life crazy and hectic? Jobs and careers demand we put in more time. The needs of our spouses, children, and family seem to grow every day. We work hard to balance the craziness of work and fun by spending time with our close friends. And sometimes we just need to sit down and take a breath for ourselves. Yep, our lives ask a lot of us.
As more responsibilities are added to our plates, we begin to search for ways to extract extra time from the day and week. What can we give up? Where is an extra 6 or 10 or 24 hours a month? It doesn't take long before our parents and extended family begin to suffer that loss of time w/ us. I know this b/c I did it to my parents, especially my dad.
I can't tell you the number of times I put my relationships, my job/career, livestock and friends in front of him. He would call me and I'd (sometimes) answer and remind him I was at work. "Sorry, Dad...can't talk now." Or the countless weekends when he'd call and ask, "When ya comin' home?" Wimp?" To which I'd reply, "Dad, this is my home. Here in Franklin." We'd laugh and I'd finally respond and say, "Soon, Dad. I'll get home soon."
I don't need to tell you how this story ends. I don't need to tell you where I thought I found the "extra" time. I wasn't doing it to be hurtful. I was going to make it up when things slowed down. I mean, this is what happens when you "grow up", right? Unfortunately, I'll never get back those phone calls or quick visits. And things never have slowed down. I could've spared a few short phone calls or quick visits. I SHOULD HAVE spared them.
Don't do what I did. Don't pass up the opportunity to make special memories with your dad or any loved one, for that matter. Call your family. Answer your phone. Visit your parents. Make sure you don't cut short your time with them. If you do, you'll regret it forever and trust me, you'll never get it back.
Happy Father's Day to all the amazing fathers out there and especially to my own in heaven. Dad, I love you and miss you every day.
