What do we find most important in our lives?

I guess I am a fairly grateful guy because of the upbringing I received throughout my life. Despite some of the “warts” found within my family history, and some of the ideations expressed (which I have long since grown past), I had a really good childhood in rural Kentucky. We weren’t a rich family (by any measure), but we were not poverty-stricken either. Much of the love and nurturing I received from a variety of members of my family contributed to the man I have become through the years.

 When I was a kid, I spent a great deal of time at my “mamaw’s” house in Kentucky. My mamaw was a pretty great woman and despite some past “chinks” in her armor, I can’t help but admit that I received a wealth of knowledge from her. We spent countless hours sitting up late into the night and watching the Golden Girls (she loved that “silly ol’ Sofia and Blanche”), Gunsmoke wherein Marshall Dillon and Festus kept the ol’ west straight; we smoked cigarettes (thank goodness that habit never stuck!) and often ate food that contemporary health experts would likely die of a heart attack if they knew. Mamaw and I went fishing (my goodness she loved catching Bluegill) together, and we cruised the local strip in her Lincoln Mark V – windows down with Elvis’ greatest hit blaring because that’s what kids did in my home town (nobody listened to Elvis, but I would never have thought to embarrass her by negating her idea of “coolness”). I truly believe my mamaw is much of the reason why I see some things about the world that I see today.

You see, while we weren’t a wealthy family, some of the greatest wealth I ever received was in the conversations I had with mamaw as she shared stories about her past, allowed me a glimpse of her younger years through her memories, and routinely shared her thoughts on what my life should be like; there were times I didn’t meet the mark…and she told me. She is the one who thought it nice that I was a paid EMT, she found it interesting that I would want to be a Reserve county police officer (no one should work for free), but she was the ultimate decisional authority when I hit a rough spot in my life and turned from a failing marriage to enter into active duty military service. I recall being afraid that she would not approve when, in fact, she hugged me and said, “I thought you’d never go be a Soldier”. Funny how our perceptions and fears work….

As I ask in the title, though, what do we find most important in our lives?

I am a busy guy. This past weekend, I had a host of work that needed to be done. Student papers needed to be graded (for those who don’t know, I am an adjunct professor for Colorado State University), I had an article upon which I am working for publication, I have books (yes, plural) that I am reading, I am studying for a PMP credential, amid other familial responsibilities that “required” my attention. Okay, so what you might ask….I dropped everything for the picture you see associated with this blog. I stopped everything I had planned to go out and play golf with my son.

The reason I did that is because I want some moments to cherish in the weeks to come. With a heavy heart, I am dropping Nathan off at university this weekend. He is “spreading his wings” and “leaving our protective nest”. I might cry a little bit…don’t judge me.

The truth is, he came to me about two weeks ago and asked if we could play one more round of golf before he departs. I told him, then, I didn’t know if I would have time. Ultimately, I made time for him! My son is one of the two most important people in my life. The last thing I want him to remember, as he heads out of town, is that I had no time for him.

The Bible teaches us that we should “train up a child in the way he should go”, and “even when he is older, he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22: 6; NASB). I have, at times, been very hard on my son, I have not always been the best example I would want him to follow, and I, too, have chinks in my armor, but I love him and want nothing less than his success as he begins to explore his newfound adult identity. Just like my memories of my grandmother, I want Nathan to have pleasant memories upon which he can land should life (and it will) throw him curve balls.