Careful Not to Trip by Dr. Juan Harrison
When I enter a room, no matter who’s holding him, almost ten month old Murphy starts frantically waving his arms, attempting a swan dive from his holder’s arms. My wife tries to jealously distract him, but to no avail. That boy is focused like a laser on his Papaw.
Darius Rucker country singer sang, “It Won’t Be Like This Forever.” Trace Adkins sang, “You’re Gonna Miss This.” Time flies. Murphy will soon be walking unassisted. Jack is my buddy as we build tents out of quilts in the bedroom, but Murphy, the quiet one, demands Papaw’s attention. Too soon he’ll be running. Jack is already in Mamaw’s PreK. Emmie is already doing backflips in her gymnastics class. No stopping them now.
If you could just bottle it up or freezeframe it. I’ve told my readers over the years what you invest in is what you get back. Money and material things have the shortest shelf life. When the carousel comes round you better grab hold the pony or somebody may grab it around on the other side. In life we have to take advantage of the opportunities when they present themselves. We say that life is what happens when we’re making plans.
I’ve lamented the fact of older people clinging to their stuff, trying to control everything up to the end. Sadly about all it amounts to is something for families to fight over and literally disintegrate. Women remarry. Lawyers get involved. Family members feel cheated as second and third wives and girlfriends slide in to cut out children and grandchildren.
I’ve reminded us over the years that no one actually owns anything in this life. You live and die and use stuff here. Nothing makes it out of the casket to the next world. We go to all this trouble to bequeath stuff to our kids and grands. Given time they suffer the same fate in old age as the material stuff keeps on sliding down the family tree. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. You plan a big funeral but a virus hits and you’re lucky to get a graveside service.
Through it all we must make it our top priority to discuss what’s important in this life as we search for our meaning and purpose. It has to be more than just using stuff, passing it along to the next mortal, and making our exit. Love people, use things. Those relationships, those hugs and kisses, can’t be taken for granted. Carpe diem. Seize the day. Don’t miss an opportunity to hug and be hugged by a grand. As you open your arms and your heart to another heart, be careful not to trip on the pile of material junk attempting to block your way.
By Dr. Juan Harrison
