I was once reading a memorable tale about how important it is to take time to create memories with your children.
Minister and author Bruce Larson writes in his book, The One and Only You which is about a close friend from Montgomery, Alabama. The man was planning an annual vacation for his children and wife but claimed he was not able to travel due to his work.
Even though he said they couldn’t take him but he was able to help plan each day of the trip in the station wagon of the family. The trip would begin in Montgomery all up to California along the west coast, before returning to return to their home.
The father was aware of their journey and precisely was aware of the exact time at which they would travel across the Continental Divide in the Rocky Mountains. The only thing his family didn’t realize was that he had booked a flight for the nearest airport to this location. He made arrangements to get an driver to drive him to the location along the highway that all vehicles must pass.
On the day that he was there when he was there, he was sitting on the side of the highway for a few hours, watching for the iconic station wagon. As soon as the car came into view, he stood up onto the road and set his thumb on the road to “hitchhike” to ride along with his family members who thought they were three thousand miles away.
Larson approached his pal to ask what prompted him to go to the effort to make the surprise happen. He replied, “Bruce, someday I’m going to be gone and, when I die, I’d like my children along with my wife tell me”You know Dad was very entertaining.'”
John Nicholson has written, “The character of a child’s relationship to the father of his/her child appears to be the primary influence on how a person’s personality will react in the face of society.”
Proverbs 23:24 says, “The father of godly children is filled with happiness. It is a joy having children that are smart.” There is a saying that reported that “It is more easy for fathers to become a parent than it is for the children to find a true father.”
Visit the National Fatherhood Initiative ( www.fatherhood.org) to read 10 ways to be a great dad. Being a great father does not have to be hard. “These 10 simple suggestions can assist (or help remind) you to get started today on a fresh path…that can impact the quality of your relationships…and the future of your children.”
“Leave an inheritance by leaving your children a fond memory. Create a plan for doing simple things that your children will be able to recall for years. Read the same book every night for a month. play a specific game every week, cook the same meal or breakfast on a Saturday.”
“Laugh together with children. Let your children discover the joy that is a result of innocence. And then, with them, laugh at these moments and experience the most profound joy felt by parents. If you make the effort to be a good parent, love and look around, and leave a lasting impression, you will be able to connect with your children and become the dad they want and need you to be.”
Jan White has compiled a collection of her columns in her book “Everyday faith for Daily Life.”
The article Make sure you take time to create unforgettable memories with your kids appeared in The Andalusia Star-News.
