By Leland Pulley
One day my wife, who is a nurse, was leaving to go to work at the hospital. When she went out to the garage to get in her car, a granddaughter yelled, “Grandma wait”. The granddaughter ran into the garage and reached up to give my wife a hug. My wife bent over and they embraced each other. Our granddaughter then said, “Grandma, I love you”. I stood at the laundry room door leading into the garage and watched this special moment unfold before my eyes. My mind took a picture of it. I can still see it today. This experience has been added to my collection of good memories. This instance is typical of those small, but special moments in our lives that are precious and should be remembered.
I can still visualize many other small moments in my life. Many were good and happy. They helped to influence and shape me into the person I am today. Without such moments, life is more dull and less happy.
Special moments can also be learning moments. I remember throwing a rock through a basement window of our home when I was five years old. My father found out and I was disciplined with his belt on my bottom. Some people would call this a bad moment, not a special one. Some would disagree with the type and amount of punishment. The reason it is special to me is because I learned that there are rules in life and other people in charge besides me. In this case rules begin at home and the other people are parents. When kids learn this early, and then a healthy parent-child relationship is sustained over the years, these kids turn out to be good people in our society. Their behavioral patterns reflect this important training in life. Such patterns show up at home, at school, on the street, at church, and other places. In this instance I did not develop any negative attitudes towards my father, nor his role in the home. My respect for him grew with time because of his many good attributes and many special moments together that were positive in nature.
All of us have special moments in our lives. We can bring some of these about by our own choosing. We can slow down the clock and have more patience. This helps us to be in a better position to notice things that we could easily miss. If I had been in a hurry the day my wife left for work and quickly went back into the house, I would not have seen that special moment between her and our granddaughter.
Service or doing good for others in some way often brings about special moments between people. You try to help the other person by what you say or do, and hopefully the other person receives your help with a grateful heart. Then both of you are edified and strengthened.
When you help others over the years, some of these people will be willing to reach out and help you too. Special moments come into your life from these good actions of others.
Some special moments are associated with important events in our lives. College graduation, your wedding day, or the birth of your first child are some typical examples. Besides events like these, you can take note of other events in your life that are significant in some way to you. Impress such events in your mind so they are remembered as special moments.
Special moments are usually personal in nature. My wife and I have gone to the beach many times. Some trips had some of our children with us and some did not. There was one trip when we went alone. It was not the first nor last time we went alone without family members or friends. The hotel was right on the beach. The weather was good. There were large lights to lite up the beach and lights along boardwalk so people could take a walk. These same conditions were there on other trips to this beach area. But this particular trip was different. In the evening we went onto the beach and eventually down to the ocean when the tide was out. We watched the beautiful sunset. Later we found ourselves gazing up to the stars. We were relaxed and felt close to each other and in harmony with the natural environment. We eventually came back to our room and spent a warm night together. The reason this trip stands out to me is because you could feel the oneness between us more strongly than other trips. All the beach did was to help provide an atmosphere. When we returned home, our relationship was strengthened.
You should have many special moments in your life. Look for them. Notice the ones you have. Create conditions to bring about more of them. These efforts will lead to more enjoyment of more special moments. This will provide more of a break from the routines, duties, responsibilities and problems you have. Your load in life will seem lighter and you will be more optimistic.
Life is too fragile and short to focus too much of your time and energy on the rat race. Do not run over others to get what you want. Do not ignore the people who are most valuable to you. Do not be in a hurry too much or too often. Instead, be more in control of yourself and your life. Be kind to others and be willing to help them. As you follow simple guidelines like these, your life will be filled with less frustration and struggles. You will experience more special moments, and the happiness and joy which accompanies them.
Key Words – love, good memories, visualize, small moments, learning moments, patience, service, important events, personal, relationship, happiness
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