I lost my dad when I was 24. It took me 30 years to learn this.
It’s not about me.
My dad died a month after his 48th birthday.
For years, I had one date circled on my calendar.
The day I turned as old as he was when he died.
The day I started living days he never got.
That day came about 5 years ago.
I wish I could say I used that event to stay present, live every day like it was my last.
I didn’t.
It passed unceremoniously.
But a more significant day is coming this year.
It’s the day my son will be as old as I was when I lost my dad.
When he gets time with me I never got.
When my dad was diagnosed, they gave him 6 months.
For the first time in my life, I prayed.
All I wanted was one more fishing trip with him.
When he started chemo, he recovered enough for us to get that trip.
He was weak and frail, but we did it.
And he died a couple months later.
So as my son approaches the age I was when all this happened, I’ve been wondering.
If I had to tell my son that we only had 6 months left, what would he pray for?
What would be the one thing he would want to do with me before I was gone?
And how do I make sure we do those things?
Today.
Because most of us don’t get a timeline.
We’re here and we’re gone.
If this resonates, I have some questions for you.
What’s on your list?
What’s on your kids’ list?
And most importantly…
What are you waiting for?
