The Apple Doesn’t Fall Far

The other day I was having a nice conversation with our daughter, while her two little boys were playing near us. We were discussing how busy the days can be and how fast time goes by. We blink, and the summer is almost gone.

I say to her a lot, “Every time I see the boys I feel as though they’ve grown another year!” Then went on to say, “No matter what goes on in our life, the most valuable thing we can do is BE the reflection to the boys of what you want to SEE in them when they’re your age. When I’m around our other kids, I sometimes see both the blessings and the failings my influence has had on them. But it’s only when I see my failing influence in them that I see the exact time and memory when it took place. Try your best to minimize the failings.”

Long after they left, I was still thinking about when I was a young father, and how I wished I could redo so many things. How I had a dollar for a tip at the coffee drive thru, but not for the beggar at the street corner. Or how I could lie while talking on the phone, but scold them for lying to me.

There’s a saying, “The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The 2nd best time is today.” I found myself asking God, “Why do I remember the exact moment I failed them, but not the times my reflection blessed them?”

“Because you still have ‘Today’, to correct it.” Was the Loving answer I heard.

So, I find myself planting new trees today, in the lives of my children, because you know what they say…

”The Apple Doesn’t Fall Far…”

Proverbs 22:6