Yesterday was an interesting day with my dad. I took him to the woods with me to have him show me some trees I could cut down and use for the fireplace. When I asked him to go with me, he responded with great enthusiasm for doing this together. I grew up on a farm, and we primarily heated our house in the cold weather with two wood stoves in the basement. Dad was excited to be cutting wood together like we had done so many times when I was young. My dad would cut the wood while my siblings and I would carry it to the wagon. Horrible work when you are a kid. Yesterday, my dad's enthusiasm quickly waned. My dad is almost 82 years old. He has a hard time picking up things with his hands, and he gets tired very quickly at his age. It was like a role reversal from my youth. I was working like crazy cutting, dragging, stacking, etc. Dad was the one relaxing on the tailgate, moving slowly, and continually going for a drink of water. I remember trying to do that when I was a kid. I also remember my dad working hard like I was yesterday when he was younger. Time has changed us both, but cutting wood was a "common ground" for us for much of my youth. We talked about wood cutting memories like cold weather, Christmas vacations spent cutting wood, getting warm on the tractor exhaust, and other memories as we stacked the wood. He needed that because his body will soon be unable to carry wood. His body is in a different season than it used to be, and so is mine. Now, I want to cut wood instead of dreading it. The Bible reminds us that there is a time for everything as we live life. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 gives a longer list, but I want to share verse 1: "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven." Yesterday was a different day and time of life for us both, but it was enjoyable to be together! Cutting firewood with dad began being about getting firewood, but now I see that it was mostly about being with dad!!
Family Discussion Points!
Parents, share a special memory that you have of working with your parents.
Kids, is there a working activity you are forced to do now that you will always associate with your parents?
Identify together some "seasons" of life. (Infancy, Youth, Jr. High, High School, etc.) Talk about your memories together because you may find that memories are being established right now in your home.
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