As time goes by, I realize how much is taken for granted. I watch a child play with his grandpa and feel an ache in my heart. I smile upon them but inside my heart is breaking. They can’t possibly know that I would give up plenty to see my children’s grandpa play with them for even 5 short minutes.
I stand there entranced by the scene and wonder if the son or daughter looking on fully understands the value and preciousness of the gift before them. I wonder if they have ever pondered the possibility of their own parents not being around. In a world as fast paced and self consuming as we live in, overlooking the important things can happen without ever intending to.
I used to be one of those people. I used to think that I had all the time in the world and that I would always have the opportunity to do or say it later. Being a parent, it is very easy to see how day to day living can consume you. By the end of the day, you haven’t had enough time to take care of all of the things you probably had planned to.
As you feel the stress build up and the worry settle in about all the unfinished tasks, the stack of bills, job concerns and anything else imaginable, stop for a minute and take a breath. In all that time that was spent worrying, did you take one minute to think about the things in your life that are priceless or to reflect on the things in your life that make you lucky?
When life is overwhelming, it is easy to forget that there are things in your life that still make you one of the luckiest people in the world. When you hold your child close to your heart and feel the wonderful realness of this miracle you are holding, you are lucky. There are many people out there whose arms ache to hold what you have right in front of you. Listen to the sound of your children’s laughter. It is the world’s most beautiful language and you are lucky enough to hear it every day.
So, the next time you find yourself feeling down and stressed, remember that no matter what challenges life throws at you, you have many things in your life that are priceless. This wonderful journey of life, with all its ups and downs is special and unique to you. Take a minute to look at all of things in your life that are positive and acknowledge their worth. After all, it is these things that matter when all is said and done. It isn’t about whether we had a lot of money, if we had a clean house, finished all of the laundry or had the best jobs. It’s about the people and moments in our lives that cannot be measured in dollar signs that have the most value of all.
