What makes living worthwhile? Loved ones, family

The stage was set. Our girls had begun their day the same as they had numerous days before. With all the hustle and bustle of getting ready, this Monday seemed the same as every other. But on this day, it would be different. Unbeknown to the girls, their elder siblings would be making a trip from Florida to spend a week with them. We kept their arrival from the girls in hopes of creating a little surprise from them and to be honest, to see the big smiles which would surely result.

As the girls rode with their mother to grandma’s house, the only thing they knew for sure was that they would hang out with grandma until their mom got back from an appointment.

The plan was working perfectly. As the car pulled into grandma’s, the girls suspected nothing. Entering the residence, the girls, being herded in the right direction, entered the living quarters.

Within seconds the girls recognized their brother and sister and joyfully welcomed them while giving their momma a little bit of a hard time, jokingly, for keeping their arrival from them. Momma experienced a bit of joy as well, gloating that she finally was able to be the parent who witnessed the excitement and joy first, before good old dad. I didn’t mind, she earned it.

As the day played out, it was a beautiful sight to behold. The children interacted perfectly, and the love and excitement were evident, emanating from all involved. Through the hours of swimming in the pool, sharing stories and walking down to the local shop to get some ice cream, each of the little ones seemed content to simply bask in the perfectness of the moment.

As the day ended, one of the girls shared with me that they had just experienced “the best day of 2023.” She said that she was so happy and couldn’t have asked for a better experience. “It was the perfect day.”

The glow of pure joy was soon overshadowed by a cloud of exhaustion as the sun set and the girls drifted off to sleep with smiles on their faces, surely dreaming of the new day to come.

I thought about how perfect the entire surprise was and how the adventures they had with their siblings had been truly good for the girls.

The entire day reminded me about the importance of making time for the people we love, no matter how busy we become.

Our ability to surround ourselves with people who have no other purpose than to lift us up and increase our happiness is essential. Because in the end, it’s the people who we share our lives with that make living worthwhile.

On this day, I watched as two teenagers welcomed the play of children, engaging with each opportunity as two much younger children looked up to them with pure elation at simply being in their presence.

May your day be filled with the love and the presence of those who raise you to a higher plane, my friends.

Richard J. Stephens lives in Carter County and is the father of three little ladies ranging in age from nine to 29. His experiences being a single parent, co-parent, and leader, provide a unique perspective to a wide array of issues families face in our modern times.