It’s often the small things that matter most.

I was teaching my character seminar one day while still serving at the Air Force Academy when I suddenly realized that the date was 12 October, my dad’s birthday. Now, I HAD sent him a proper card and gift, but I hadn’t gotten the chance to call him yet. Being the innovative guy that I am, some say crazy, I thought, “How would he feel if I called him right now and had all 60+ cadets sing Happy Birthday to him?” Well, let’s find out….

I told the class what we were about to do and how. THEY all got excited. They’d never done that, and it seemed like fun. “Let’s do it!” was their attitude. So, I called Dad. He always answered the house phone so I knew that he would. And he did. As soon as he did, we began singing. He LOVED it! And so did the cadets! He immediately called out to Mom to tell her what had just happened. Mom, too, was excited. I gave the cadets a break so that I could talk with Dad for a few minutes. We reconvened right after I hung up with Dad.

The real value of that small event, that small thing, was that he never forgot it. I forgot it, but he’d remind me. And he told all of his friends so they would remind me when we saw each other on my visits to New Mexico, my parents’ home.

There are many small things, seemingly insignificant events, that I still remember that happened to me throughout my life. You can probably remember some, too. They matter. Sometimes, they matter most.

bob vásquez!