What You Mean to Me

I didn’t intend for this to be posted around Thanksgiving, but it sure fits with the season.

As we interact with others, we may never know what our relationships mean to them. It seems like we often wait too long to tell others what they mean to us…usually after terrible accidents, disease diagnoses, or at funerals. If we would like others to share what we mean to them, we should tell them how much they mean to us. I wish I did a better job of this with those around me. I have a couple of friends who are very good about sharing, with me, the importance of our relationship. It sure feels good to hear it.

While I may not share it enough, I treasure all my relationships, even the difficult ones (maybe not during the trying time, but in hindsight). I believe people have been put in our lives for a purpose, some for the long haul, and others for just a brief time. We get to enjoy/not enjoy new experiences in life with them, learn lessons from them (both good and bad), and walk this journey without doing it alone. If you are reading this and you know me, please be assured that whatever our relationship, past or current, has had an impact on my life, and I am grateful for it.

Below is our youngest son’s hero essay, written about his dad. This is a great example of the importance of relationships. While my husband may think that our son likes me “better” because he is more affectionate toward me or because we are like two peas in a pod (which is not always good), this essay shows what my husband really means to our son. 

He's Always There For Me    
    My hero taught me to love three things: God, family, and hockey. These may not be important to you, but these are the three most important things in my life. Nobody could ever take away these things, or what I have learned from them. My hero helped me learn about all of these things. My hero is my father.
    I've learned many things from my father. One thing that I look forward to every year is deer camp. I have been going to deer camp with my father ever since I was in fourth grade. I spend lots of time with my dad when we are hunting, and I have a lot of fun on these weekends together. Another thing I enjoy doing with my father is fishing. Many times we will just go out and go fishing. He has taught me a lot about how to fish, and now I often tease him about being better than him. This quality time that we spend together is something that I enjoy.
    My dad takes us to church, like many parents, so I would grow up learning about God. He has told me many stories about how God has helped him in his life, and helped me to better understand many of the things I learn in church. This is what I am most grateful for, him passing on to me the knowledge of God.
    My father has also made it important for us to spend time together as a family. We go on vacation together, often driving for countless hours at a time. We go on boat trips together, sailing for a week together on a boat. Of course there have been rough times in these experiences together, but he has taught me how to work through these struggles together. He has also taught me that family and God are the two things you must always love, no matter how mad they make you, they will always love you.
    The third most important thing in my life is sports, but mostly hockey. My dad has played hockey his whole life. Growing up, he was my role model and I wanted to be just like him, so of course that meant I would grow up to become a hockey player. At first it was frustrating, falling again and again, but my dad was always there to pick me up, offer some tips, and then let me go to try again. I have now played hockey for most of my life, and it has changed me. No matter where I am, if there is a sheet of ice somewhere I want to be skating on it.
    My hero has helped me learn that no matter what I'm going through in life, God, family, and hockey will always be there for me. Even when we are busy in our lives, and don't spend much time together, his many stories and lessons will be with me forever. 

In response to this essay, I’m going to spend some time thinking of the heroes in my life and the ways I can let them know how much they mean to me. I might just tell them…maybe at lunch…or send an email or card…maybe create a video or picture collage…I could write an essay…or sing a song (ok, maybe just play a song)…you get the picture. It doesn’t matter how I do it, as long as my message get through, “Here’s what you mean to me.”