Happy Friday, Friends:
I hope and trust this post finds you all having a great day on this glorious, freezing, Friday afternoon in my Sweet Home Alabama! 😊
What a special time of year! It is Christmas Eve eve and you can feel the excitement in the air! I absolutely love it!
Last Saturday, my Beautiful Bride, two of my Tender Warriors, and I took a quick, 5-day, trip to Arizona. My in-laws are both in their mid-80’s and they will be transitioning to assisted living right after the first of the year. We wanted to spend some time with them and help them get ready to make their move. To say it was a special, very blessed, time would be an understatement! Amongst a number of special moments, I want to share two with you.
Kath and I were out to lunch when I looked up and saw that the restaurant we were at had a little artificial tree decorated for Christmas. As I sat and looked at that tree, I thought about Grandma and Grandpa’s home. There was almost no indication that it was Christmas except the one angel that sits on an end table. I told Kath that after we were done eating, I wanted to go buy a small tree and decorations so her parents could decorate it. That is exactly what we did.
To watch Grandma, and especially Grandpa, decorate that tree was something none of us will ever forget. That look of awe and wonder little kids get on their face when they look at a Christmas tree…that is the exact look that Grandpa had on his face the entire time! We all genuinely enjoyed our time as Grandma and Grandpa decorated their tree, and it blessed us all beyond measure.
On Wednesday it was time to head home. We were all saying our goodbyes as I went to shake Grandpa’s hand, just as we have done every other time I have left him since I was 17-years old. This time, however, would be different. I reached out my hand to shake his hand however when he grabbed my hand, he pulled me to him for a hug…the first time we had hugged in the 38 years we have known each other! It was absolutely incredible, something I will never forget as long as I live.
People generally look at the holidays one of two ways – with great excitement or with great dread. Those who look at it with excitement usually talk about time with family, special traditions, getting and receiving gifts, etc. Those who look at it with dread will often talk about the absent family member, the hardships, the expectations, etc. Here is the thing – one way or another we are all going to create memories over these next few days. Whether they are memories we hold close to our hearts and reflect on regularly or they are memories that stir bitterness, anger, and resentment will in large part be up to each one of us, individually. Most, if not all, of us have experienced loss, hardships, and disappointments just as most of us have blessings and opportunities. We get to choose which we will focus on and pursue, which will in turn determine the type of memories we create. Please Friends, choose wisely.
Please don’t hesitate to contact me if there is ever anything I can do for you or your family. I will always help you any way I can. You can reach me at kevin@whatwillyourinfluencebe.com.
Have a great day, a wonderful weekend, please cherish your precious families, and please stay well!
Kev
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