Calendar Books by Allen James - Daily Reading - "The Journey: A Calendar Book"

From "The Journey: A Calendar Book" for March 27th we read, "Visit your parents often".

As we transition into young adulthood from adolescence our parents seem to become less and less "important" to us. From the time we become active in the social environment of our teens when we "know everything" and our parents know "nothing", to the time we begin a family of our own when we are so involved in our own lives and our parents have become "old" in our eyes, the relationship which was once vital to our existence has morphed into a sometimes distant connection. It isn't until we reach the point of having our own children grow apart from us we realize how our parents must have felt when we pulled away from them as we are not experiencing this pain.

Certainly this isn't true for everyone, as many remain connected to their parents through proximity and communication, but life does have a way of distancing us from many of the once close relationships we once shared.

When I was in college, before cell phones and free long-distance calling, I would pick up the phone, dial my parent's phone number, wait until mom would pick up on the other end, and then hang up after someone answered at the other end. I just needed to hear one of my parent's voices; I just needed to be assured they were still there. For me, this was enough. I was too selfish at the time to realize they needed to hear my voice as well.

My mother succumbed to lung cancer when I was 30. I thought she'd be around forever. My father was taken by esophageal cancer a few years later. I was orphaned much too young, never imagining I would not have them well into my adult years.

I still visit my parents at Rosedale Cemetery in my hometown when I make it back, and yes, I talk with them. At one time in my life I thought this a ridiculous act, but now it brings me peace to create a connection of my own after they are no longer on the other end of the phone.

Visit your parents often. Think of how THEY feel without hearing from you. Think about how YOU will feel when you no longer have them close; the very ones who provided you with the tools you need for and encouraged you to push toward - personal success.

Keep looking up. : ) AJ