We celebrate those who give us life with “national” days of thanksgiving and of appreciation. Mother’s Day to celebrate mom the nurturing, loving, life giver. Father’s Day to enjoy the time we get to spend with the biggest male influence in our lives. Maybe we did not have these figures close to us, but they are still celebrated. There is Grandparent’s Day, Aunt and Uncle’s Day, National Mentor Month, National Sibling’s Day and many other days in which we celebrate our heroes.
In the poetic words of Isaiah di Trani, “...we are dwarfs astride the shoulders of giants. We master their wisdom and move beyond it. Due to their wisdom we grow wise and are able to say all that we say; but not because we are greater than they.”
Isaac Newton simply said, “If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.”
Those who have come before us, those who have helped us and shaped us into the people that we are, those individuals in our life are the giants which we stand firmly planted on. These are the individuals who show us the world.
And when these giants fall, when our giants fall, they fall hard.
Age and tragedy lend their hands in taking down the giants of our lives. And though sometimes by surprise, to say we never expect it is merely foolish. Our parents become older and more frail. Sometimes tragedy or sickness knock these giants off their feet.
When they fall, it is up to us to pick them up. And then, when the time comes, we take their spots and are the shoulders by which someone else will see the world in a different and clearer way.
I don’t write this to say that our parents, our loved ones, our cherished people in life are going away any time soon. I write to warn you that the time we think we have with them is much shorter than we expect or would like it to be. Use this time wisely and grow from the experiences of the giants around you. Appreciate their gift to you and remember to never take it for granted.
TL;DR, Call you parents and tell them you love them and appreciate their sacrifices.
