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When I was growing up, my family would spend every holiday together. My grandfather had seven children and 27 grandchildren. Can you imagine 27 children, of various ages, running around, playing and giggling in one room?
[callout]This post is part of a series based on the book Today Matters: 12 daily practices to guarantee success by Dr. John C. Maxwell.[/callout]
We had the best time together. At Christmas, each child would bring one gift to my grandfather’s house to open after dinner. Each grandchild would take turns asking my grandfather when we could open our gifts. He would tell us “when I sit in my chair.”
During dinner, we would try to guess what each present contained. After dinner, we clean up the dishes and hurry into the living to wait for my grandfather. As the minutes passed, we could barely contain our excitement.
My grandfather would wait until the last minute to walk into the room. As he prepared to sit in his recliner, we would gather around him to open our gift. It was so exciting as we would tear open the wrapping paper. We would laugh as we shared our gifts.
As we grew older, whenever my cousins and I get together we reminisce about our holidays. We laugh and share stories for hours. As we laughed, it feels like we were sitting in my grandfather’s living room
During the holidays, as I watch some of my favorite holiday specials, like Frosty the Snowman, How the Grinch Stole Christmas and A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, I think about our holidays at my grandfather’s house.
Well, my cousins and I now have grandchildren of our own. We all live in different states. While we don’t see each other very often, when we come together it’s like we are still kids laughing in my grandfather’s living room. When I close my eyes, I can see my grandfather sitting in his recliner smiling at us.
In his book, Today Matters, John Maxwell reminds us
[shareable cite=”Dr. John C. Maxwell”]Today’s family gives me stability.”[/shareable]
Without continual investments, relationships drift apart.
Our family should be a priority in our lives. During a leadership group that my husband I lead, I was recently reminded “to make time for the family before we run out of time.”
In what ways are you giving time and energy to the people who matter most in your life?
Your leadership guide,
Kim
Dr. Kim Moore | Your Leadership Guide | kimdmoore.com
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