Little Moments Create Big Memories
As a father has compassion for his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him. Psalm 103:13
Today is my dad’s birthday. Every year, I ask him a few weeks before October 12th what gifts he would like. He always gives me a BS answer at first, such as a Porsche, a year’s subscription to Playboy, world peace, or some other ridiculous request. I soon become irritated, and he finally says the same answer he always gives me: “I just want you and everyone to be happy.” Out of all the other bogus answers he gives me before this one, this is the most annoying, because he continues to leave me completely clueless as to what I should buy. He is by far the most difficult person in the world to buy a gift for. He doesn’t golf, fish, or hunt, and I definitely don’t want to give him something from the UGA Bookstore for the third year in a row. During my quest to find something creative and unique to give him, I ultimately decided to give him exactly what he asked for for the first time in my life: making other people happy.
This past week, I have been busy coming up with 51 random acts of kindness that I could do for others to celebrate the 51st birthday of the person who has always gone out of his way to make sure that my entire family was happy and well-cared for. I kept a journal of everything I did, and I soon realized that these little things that I did for others reminded me of the many things my dad has done for me. Here are some of my favorites:
I left a new koozie and a “good luck on your midterms” note on a table in a MLC study room for a random person to have. Up until I had my own car, my dad was usually the parent who was responsible for dropping me off at school in the mornings on his way to work. As I was opening the door and grabbing my backpack and lunchbox, he would always say, “Have fun and do your best.” Leaving the koozie on the study table with the encouraging note reminded me him telling me this everyday for nearly twelve years. It also reminded me of the many times I’ve called him since I’ve been in college and complained about how stressed out I was. He always reminds me that I can do nothing more than my best, and as long as I gave it my all, I should be proud and reward myself for my hard work.
I taped a bag of spare change to a vending machine. Riding to school wasn’t the only car ride my dad would take me on. Several Saturday and Sunday afternoons were spent riding in his truck with the windows down, listening to a southern rock radio station, and looking out at the dirt roads we were traveling down wondering where on earth we were while sipping on an ice cold Diet Coke. Before we would begin our journey of trekking these infamous Georgia back roads, we would always stop at a corner store and buy a 44 oz fountain drink of my all-time favorite beverage. (I believe this is where my DC addiction started.) I hope that whoever took the change I left spent it on their soft drink that gives them as much happiness as I experience whenever I take a sip of Diet Coke.
I donated canned food items to a local homeless shelter. My dad has always taught my siblings and I that we are extremely fortunate to have all of our needs and many of our wants met. I can still remember going to Wal-Mart when I was a kid with my mom and younger brother and sister. With three young children (who were all born in three years and two months I must add) in the buggy, you can imagine that our loud, whiney, and high-pitched requests and tantrums for toys and junk food were great and vast. Whenever we would return home from what I’m sure my mom would consider a super fun shopping excursion, we were told to retreat to our bedrooms “until your father gets home” so he could talk to us, a.k.a. Mama could regain her sanity. Daddy would call us three kids into the living room, look at us with a disappointing expression, and then remind us how lucky we were to have everything that our parents and God had provided for us. No matter what age we were, he was always able to effectively communicate this to us and leave us humbled and sorry for our bratty behavior. Daddy would often call specifically me out for my disobedience and remind me that I was the oldest and had to set an example for my brother and sister. So for the estimated 50+ times I did not lead by example (although I’m sure my mom would argue there were many more times), I donated over 50 cans to the shelter for people who do not have the luxury of going into a grocery store and buying all the food that they need.
I ironed all my clothes that I plan on wearing this week and next week and found the match to all of my socks. Ok, so this isn’t exactly a random act of kindness, but ANY man, including my dad, will agree that in order for him to be happy, his wife has to be happy. Throughout the arguments and quarrels that my mom and I have gotten into just like any other mother and daughter, my dad has always been the voice of reason when he would constantly remind me that if he or I ever wanted to be happy and peaceful again, I would have to suck it up, tell my mom that I was wrong and she was right regardless of the situation, and smile until even I believed what I was saying. So in order to make my mom happy (at least for this week), I fixed two of the things that I do that get on her last nerves. Mama, there is not a single wrinkle in what I’m wearing, and my socks are the same color, brand, and don’t have any holes. You can sleep peacefully at night now.
I prayed for people who I strongly dislike. I don’t think I could ever hate anyone, but let’s just say that if their house caught on fire and I happened to have a bucket of water sitting next to me, I’d take a second and consider drinking it if I was thirsty (said with a slight hint of sarcasm). Daddy has always taught me to keep my faith first no matter what and to not let other people or things keep you from being a better Christian. He has also consistently reminded me that those who treat others disrespect are often fighting some kind of battle or battles in their own lives that are much bigger than the battle that we are fighting with them. I decided to take a few extra minutes last night to pray for these people and their personal battles that they’re facing.
I recycled my grocery bags. During his first visit to my new apartment this year, my dad was quick to point out his concern that we didn’t have any recycling bins. (In all honesty, I’m not quite sure where we would put them if we decided to get some because we’re already in a cramped space.) My family and I have definitely noticed that he has become extremely environmentally conscious in the past couple of years and will even dig out recyclable items in our kitchen trash and take it to our bins in the garage. Hopefully, he will sleep a little better tonight knowing that I did this.
As I’m writing this blog in my bedroom, I’m looking at one of my favorite pictures of my dad and me hanging above my desk. I’m about two years old – the age when I still believe that I’m going to one day marry my dad or my younger brother, Mama’s kiss had more healing power than any bandaid or medicine, stealing a cookie out of the cookie jar was considered a felony, twenty was considered “old,” and spaghetti was a gourmet meal. I have one of my favorite dresses and bows on, my dad is in his button down shirt and tie about to head to church, and we’re doing what brought me the most happiness growing up: dancing. I soon realized that it’s the little moments such as that one that have meant the most to me. Daddy, thank you for making these “little” moments such a big part of my life… I’ll treasure them forever, and I hope to one day recreate them with my little girl.
King of the World
by Point of Grace
Spinning around on the tops of his feet
Smiles of the angels could not be so sweet
Wide brown eyes and piggy tails swirl
She's her daddy's girl
'Cause he knows the jokes that always make her laugh
And takes her for ice cream instead of her nap
At the end of the day by the light of the moon
They turn up the music in their living room
And she yells,
"Dance me, dance me around
Til my feet don't ever touch ground
There's nothing better than being your girl
And if I am your princess then Daddy,
You are the king of the world."
It's funny how life moves in circles at times
To think not so long ago that face was mine
Houses get smaller, we take different names
But some things in life stay the same
Dance me, dance me around
Til my feet don't ever touch ground
There's nothing better than being your girl
And if I am your princess, then Daddy,
You are the king of the world
Someday she'll go off and find a life of her own
Marry a good man, and make a happy home
Until she comes back and sees with those same eyes
What time cannot disguise
She walks through the door with that look on her face
'Cause Daddy's brown hair has all turned to gray
They talk for hours, they cry and they laugh
Watching old movies and thinking back
And just as she turns to go
She says, "Hey Dad, how 'bout one for the road?"
Dance me, dance me around
Til my feet don't ever touch ground
There's nothing better than being your girl
Oh no there's nothing better than being your girl
And if I am your princess, then Daddy
You are the king of the world...
Click here to listen to Point of Grace's "King of the World"
