It’s What Matter’s Most

Each day we wake up, do our home chores, train the children, children get their education, we cook, we teach, and we go to bed. Pretty much every day we do the same old things in the same old ways, but what is it that we tend to take for granted than our own families.

We are so close and live together so it’s easy to lose our temper, but we guard ourselves so well in front of friends and in public. We find it easier to be grumpy in front of the very people who love us most.

When I was nineteen years old, and very much living in the world, I had a falling out with my daddy. I truly loved my daddy, but in my selfishness I disregarded his feelings and only looked after my own. The last time I saw my daddy I was in a car at a distance while my husband was returning something to him. I was bitter and my heart was hardened.

We moved out of state without telling my daddy. Our lives moved on without him and I had no desire to even speak to him. I didn’t call him, I didn’t write to him, and I didn’t bother to inform him of where I was living. Eight months later I received a phone call that my daddy had suffered a massive heart attack and died.

I was in utter shock! At first I didn’t even believe the news. My husband assured me that the news, as awful as it was, was true. My daddy had left this world. I was numb for several hours until I went to a friend’s house to talk about it. As soon as I began to tell my friend that my daddy was gone, I began to sob.

For several years I felt a tremendous amount of grief and guilt over my selfishness. I truly missed my daddy very much and I could not apologize for my selfishness. Every Father’s Day was painful for me and any time my children would reach a milestone in their childhood, I would feel that intense burden again. I longed for my daddy to know I was deeply sorry for moving away and not forgiving him. The dispute we had was most certainly NOT worth it!

I have shared this story several times with my children over the years as a way to teach them to keep their relationships right. We do not attempt to sleep if we’re not ‘right’ with one another. We do not leave each other’s presence in the midst of a dispute. When parting from one another we always say I love you!

When it comes right down to it, no argument is worth having a departure that could potentially be your last time seeing one another. Your family is the most important earthly relationship you have here on earth. It’s what matter’s most in all your earthly relationships. Keep your relationships right. If you are at odds with a family member, make that relationship right. You can agree to disagree, as long as it’s done respectfully, but be sure your relationship is in right standing and you each know that you sincerely love one another.

Girls, I want to tell you how important it is that you say goodnight to your parents. A hug and kiss goodnight should not stop until the day you marry and move into your husband’s home. A good morning hug should not cease until the morning of your wedding day. You never know when that last hug will be, get all the hugs you can each and every day.