Last night turned out to be one of those special nights for me. Not because it was St. Patrick’s Day, although the holiday did inspire the events of the evening.
My family gathered together to eat a traditional St. Patrick’s meal of corned beef and cabbage. Well some of us did. My wife also cooked a pot roast with all the trimmings for those not disposed to the Irish delight. One of my daughter’s-in-law brought a delicious brownie dessert (that I didn’t need as good as it was though).
Food aside however, I was overwhelmed by the opportunity to spend a couple of hours with my family all under one roof. There were only twelve of us, one being the boyfriend of one of my granddaughters. Not a huge family but big enough I suppose.
The conversation was lively as usual (no politics thank God). Just the normal chitchat that seems to characterize American family dinners. It was all good; it made me feel extraordinarily blessed.
Why am I telling you all this? Why should you care?
Well, I wanted to share something with you I am sure you already know, at least in your minds you know: These kinds of opportunities are only temporary.
My wife Marise and I are now both orphans. I know that sounds morbid but it is true. Our parents are no longer with us. We don’t have a dad or a mom to talk with when we need a safe place to talk.
Yes we have each other, but there is just something special about talking with a mom or a dad.
There is also something special about our children and grandchildren as well. Listening to the noisy banter of four teenagers in one room can be incredibly disorienting to older folks but it is nonetheless something quite special. Let them rant!
Their worlds are significantly important and exciting as they document what they believe to be the most important things happening in their lives at the moment. They are teenagers only once (thank God).
As the parents of these grandchildren grow into older adults themselves they begin to remind us of when we were younger. They may even begin to look like us. Sometimes they even act like us, which is scary.
It is said that daughters become their mothers and sons become their fathers. Well it could be the other way around but who cares? It just is.
We see them make the same mistakes we made when we were their age but we keep our opinions to ourselves because we don’t want to be interfering old farts. We mourn their failures but we realize we had our own share of failures so we refrain from being judgmental. We do celebrate privately their successes. But most importantly we have learned to extend grace to each of them.
But last night for some reason seemed special. Any parent would wish that opportunities such as these would be endless. But we know this is not the case.
But here’s the deal: Whether you are a grandparent or a parent or a teenager whose life is filled with friends and activities, take every opportunity to spend time with your families.
Families will not always remain intact. Life plays cruel tricks on us all. Relish those moments of togetherness. They are special.
Enjoy the opportunity to be a part of something special that only birth can confer: Being a member of a family!
This my friend is one of those things that is larger than life itself.
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