Time together

Photo by Maria Lindsey Multimedia Creator from Pexels

I had a laundry list of chores to accomplish around the house this evening that I wanted to get done before the rain sets in tomorrow.

My son, however, had plans of his own. He decided he was going to dig a hole in the yard next to the fort we're building so he could install a small "decorative pool."

Toward the end of the evening, I was busting butt to complete my final chore when he came over and asked for my help.

I looked down at the four rows of lettuce yet to be planted and balked; I really wanted to get them in before the rain. But he was really excited about his project -- so excited that he skipped his evening session of video games for it.

"Ok," I said. "I'll be over in a minute." And I put my tools away and went to help him dig.

An hour and a half later, the hole was finished and lined with plastic. We took a walk to the creek together to look for some stones to place in the bottom.

At some point, I caught myself watching him work and my thoughts drifted back in time to my own dad. Dad's been gone for ten years now. Ten heartbreaking years.

In that moment, my son was me and I was my dad. Nostalgic, I thought about all the stuff we used to do together... how he would let me help him work on things around the house. I miss those days.

As I watched the boy work, two words formed in my mind: "Time together." Time together is our most valuable commodity. What I miss more than anything about Dad is our time together. And what I cherish now more than anything with my son is the time we spend together. These times are the best.  

The boy looked up at me and smiled. My thoughts returned to the present and I smiled back at him. I was glad I left that lettuce in the tray.

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