Over the course of this weekend I have spent pure quality time with my parents. Not that I have never spent time with them. This time was different.
Although I hate the reason that brings them west of Houston, I love the unfiltered time. I can admit that I was distracted from homework, I really didn’t text as much, I even watched tv with them. God knows I don’t watch much television. (Let alone the programing they find entertaining.) It was the sheer presence of being in the same living space as them. My parents are interesting individuals. The don’t follow some of the principles that I’ve recently been exposed to. I’m not sure they had a value statement or core values chart for our family, as I am still scratching my head to create my own.(but) My parents are genuine, warm, loving people. They are honest and very open with me.
As the oldest of two, I have heard many of the things that I did wrong and right over the course of this weekend. I have also heard wisdom concerning many things that I will encounter in life. What I valued most: the walk around my neighborhood. My parents are both healing: one from a back surgery and it’s complications and the other, shoulder surgery and current back treatment. The got up relatively early on Saturday and walked my neighborhood with me. No complaints, and with a cane in hand, we shared a moment in health together. I loved it. I can deposit this memory and add it to a random visit to a pet adoption event. I didn’t have the pleasure of taking the black lab that I fell in love with home… but I was there with my parents.
This weekend I fell asleep with my face in my textbook on the floor of my living room. Not two feet away were, you guessed it, my parents. I cooked dinner for them. My mom, as she always does, found something to clean. My dad, found his favorite television show at 10:30, Perry Mason. It felt great. I miss them when they are gone. I realize how I took family time for granted as a child.
I would give this time up for no one. This is priceless. God blessed parents with children. Children are blessed by parents. The relationship is reciprocal.
Andonnia's Truth 