The other night was ‘date night’ with the wife.
Rarrrr!
Yeah.
We ended up at the local bowling alley.
About 4 lanes down from us there was a group of people that many would refer to as, well, rednecks.
Tanks tops. Tattoos. Patchy looking facial hair. Budweiser.
These folks had a bunch of kids with them, probably 7 – 10 years of age.
And the kids were bowling with the parents. And they were having a blast.
Parents and the kids.
Sure they were loud, obnoxious, liquored up a bit, but everyone was there having fun.
Together.
Contrast that with the scene the following night at our local YMCA.
Organized basketball was going on in the gym.
Inside the gym it was filled with kids, probably 7 – 10 years of age.
Outside the gym it was filled with the parents. All of them on their cell phones.
Texting.
Talking.
Surfing the web.
Point is they were with their kids, but they weren’t with their kids.
I don’t know, maybe you’re like ’so what? get to the point already!’.
My point is maybe we can learn a lesson from the bowling alley parents.
Growing up I played quite a bit of organized sports. I was decent. No Uncle Rico. But then again, who is?
And you know what? The memories I have today aren’t of baseball practice.
Or basketball practice.
They are of my family out on the boat.
Together.
Family camping trips.
Together.
Family doing nothing.
Nothing…together.
I’m pretty sure you just bumped into something called ‘wisdom’…nice! And more importantly, true.
You are so true, the only thing our kids want is us. They want Mom and Dad to play with them and have fun with them. Our 2 year old only plays with his toys if we play with him. It’s about loving them and showing it by looking them in the eyes and giving high fives and being present.
I see what you saw. Being rich is like this, and more, because the treasures people should seek are simple, reachable, free and fulfilling. In the U.S. A. there is a cultural trend to get us into an unaffordable life style and still not be happy. Borrowing instead of self discipline of saving. Credit card debt – spending the pay check before we have it. Sometimes I think it would be nice to live in a cave and hunt for a new loin clothe for Sunday. Personally, I’ve found this tranquil life. I have a wife that loves me. And a God that is personal. And family love.