Sitting at my father’s desk for the last decade of his life, I rediscovered his priorities by what he kept front and centre in his line of sight. I do not think I was surprised. I was impressed by the tangible items—a designation pin, a printed label of his dedicated crafts for a granddaughter, and pictures of meaningful relationships in his life, past and present.
Knowing includes reminders. In my youth, I did not appreciate the value that reminders played in knowing. In hindsight, I emotionally thought of it as cheating. Each reminder was a metaphorical answer written on my arm. As helpful as it was, I knew the rules said it was wrong. My thinking was simple: If it was inappropriate in one setting, it must also be a mistake in other settings. With time and experience, amplified by age and too much information, I have come to appreciate the nuanced role reminders play in my life. My life’s test is not that I always remember perfectly. My life measure is found in how I apply what I have learned and experienced to the moment that I have.
We wear labels. In this case, Dad was proud of his role as a grandparent. To him, he was the graduate’s number one cheerleader and advocate. It was a cherished role. He put his heart and soul into it without reservation. As I better understand what it means to be a grandparent, I find myself learning from the models set by those before me. Across the ages, examples have been set. Moses took the lead in his day; “By an act of faith, he kept the Passover Feast and sprinkled Passover blood on each house so that the destroyer of the firstborn wouldn’t touch them.” (Hebrews 11.28) With each cheer, relationship moment, and act of kindness and care, one creates the best labels to wear with honour.
Positions are seats of opportunity. Every individual has a unique role to play in the lives around them. I am inspired and challenged by those before me. Carpe diem!
