The greatest gift you can give your family is quality time.
No amount of presents, the coolest new toy or even money is as valuable to your children and family (and friends!) as dedicating your attention, and undistracted time to them.
Recently, I read a heartbreaking story about a family who experienced a tragic loss that made them realize just how important quality time is.
The story detailed a dad who was a business owner and a mom who was a doctor, and how they missed a lot of quality time with their 8-year-old son, who tragically passed away in his sleep one night. They didn’t wake him up in the morning, the dad left for work to go to back to back meetings and the mom didn’t check on him until later in the day. She thought he was sleeping in, so she left him alone. She later learned that was not the case when she went to check on him.
In deeply personal op-eds, the parents wrote about how they wish they had spent more quality time with their son and had not prioritized work as much.
I would like this story to serve as a reminder to you today. To remember amidst the busy Christmas season to prioritize the ones you love in your life. To remember that the people in our lives are a blessing, and that life is fragile.
We should live like each day is our last with the kind of relentless love and appreciation for those in our lives and family.