Taking Time To Listen

Dominic and I went to the grocery store for dinner materials and cereal for his first cereal meal. As we were in the meat section an elderly gentleman who was quite taken with Dominic approached us. He adored him from afar, and then came closer. He reached out and stroked Dominic's hand with kindness as he said "You won't remember me in ten years will you?". This wonderful man proceeded to tell us about his two grown children who have their own children. He has a daughter and a son who each have three children, one has three boys and one has three girls. He informed us that the girls were much more of a challenge then the boys. Of the three girls they were 18,16, and 14. I told him that he may not have much longer and he may have some great grandchildren. Of which he replied, "I don't think I'll live long enough to see them". It nearly broke my heart to hear him say this. Dominic is fortunate enough to have four great-grandparents in his life.

I guess the important lesson I took from today's outing is to listen. We go about our lives so hectically and with such schedules that we hardly ever notice our surroundings. We only take the time to notice our beautiful surroundings when we are old and our time is near the end.