If my dad were alive today, he would be celebrating his 78th birthday. Cancer robbed him of too many years. He received his promotion to Heaven in 1990 at the age of 55. I was a very young man when he died and there have been more times than not that I've wondered why he was called home at such a young age.
I wish I could say I was as respectful to him as I should have been all the time. I tired easily of fielding some of the questions he would ask. Things like, "Have you checked the oil in your car lately?" Or, "Did you pay that bill like you were supposed to?" Sometimes I wanted to just yell back, "Would you just mind your own business?!"
Now that I'm a parent veteran of almost 21 years, I'm learning that those questions are ones that were indeed his business. I'm thankful that my own two daughters are far more responsible than I was at their age.
Dad was a pastor and as such, I sometimes felt restricted from going places or doing things that I wanted to do. I could probably get a chuckle or three at his expense if I were to divulge some of the rules and regulations my sister and I 'endured' while living under his roof.
Now that I'm a parent veteran of almost 21 years, I'm learning that those rules and regulations might not have been so bad after all. Knowing me, I needed every one of them ~ and maybe a few more.
Dad and I used to enjoy doing things together. Whether it was fishing in a local pond or throwing a baseball in the back yard, late afternoons at our house generally yielded quality time spent with dad. These are the times I miss the most. It is the memories we made just spending time together that I hold most dear today.
Now that I'm a parent veteran of almost 21 years, I often reminisce of the times when I had 'Daddy Dates' with my two daughters. Whether it was a trip to McDonald's or an hour or two at the beach, the times that I was able to spend with my kids are treasures today.
This past week, through a scheduling snafu, I was able to spend some quality time with my eldest. Honestly, she needed to be somewhere else. We were stuck waiting on someone who was late to our appointment. But the conversation we shared just between the two of us made such an impact on me.
My prayer is that the times I have been able to share with my children have made even half the impact on them that I've gained. What my dad taught me during the 25 years I was able to be with him on this earth was invaluable. I wish I would have used the time more wisely. If your parents are still here on this earth, be sure to take advantage of every available opportunity to make memories with them.
