Things I Miss The Most

With life seemingly more hectic and complicated every day it is with a sadness that I focus on what I really miss the most. More than anything, I miss the simplicity that life once held, where nothing else seemed to matter except what was happening at that very moment. A special time, when families still bowed their heads in prayer as they actually sat down together for evening meals, instead of in front of a television set.

I miss fishing on a creek bank for no other reason except the pure challenge and relaxation from it. Rarely did we ever catch many fish, and more often than not, we released what we caught. What was most important was the togetherness and memories that I will always have from sitting on a muddy creek bank. It is amazing how many problems could be resolved if we took the time to get a little bit dirty with our kids.

In retrospect, there was nothing more exhilarating than riding down an old back road on a bicycle. Even today, I can still smell the crispness of riding on a warm summer morning, or taking in all the colors in the country on a cool autumn afternoon. Many folks still ride a bicycle for exercise and a few for pleasure, but there is no greater freedom that a child can experience than getting to ride with friends or relatives down a country road.

If you have never experienced what it is like to lay in a grassy field on a hot summer day, looking up into the sky, while chewing on a sweet blade of grass, you have missed one of life’s greatest simple pleasures. I challenge you to take a moment and make that memory real; you will be amazed how it will clear your mind.

What I really miss are relatives and friends who are no longer with us. Death shatters childhood innocence more than anything else does. I will never forget the first friend to pass away, or the death of my grandparents. Those memories are forever in my mind, and even though as adults we understand that death is a part of life, I will always miss those whom I can no longer just sit and talk with. Never take any conversation with family or friends lightly, because we never know when something as simple as sitting on a creek with fishing pole in hand could be the last time you have with someone.

Many memories fade, and unfortunately adulthood and its responsibilities seem to force us to change focus. However, it is never too late to create lasting memories, so I challenge each of us to take a little time and create new memories that will stand the test of time. Take a stroll down an old back road, or sit by a creek or lake with your children or grandchildren and create moments that will never fade from their minds.