How many times have you looked at your watch (iPhone) today to see what time it was? Did you take into account that the seconds you waste looking at the time you could be doing something productive? No? Neither did I; what’s up with that? I quit wearing a watch about 10 years ago when I got my whole arm
stuck in a freezer at Food Max in Starkville after my watch became stuck behind an ice cream pint rack. I will have to tell y’all that story some other time. Anyway, that got me to thinking that I had the time on my cell phone, which was an awesome Motorola Razor at the time, and I would just use that to keep track of my day. That was the demise of my wearing a watch.
Sometimes, though, we do need to slow down and check the time. We may not need to do so literally, but figuratively in a way where we just are not wasting time on things that do not really matter in the big scheme of things. For instance, if you have a son or daughter that plays an organized sport, by all means, go watch them play. I have covered many a game where there were more visiting players than there were visiting fans in the stands. We all understand that some folks have to work and all, but surely they can carve out a couple hours once a week to watch their child play. I do understand that it may be hard for some folks to travel to watch their child, but a little planning once you get a schedule will help for sure.
I never had to worry or even think about my father being at any of my ball games. He just always was. Wherever we played, he was there. There were two things I knew for sure when I was growing up, although whether I am grown now or not is debatable, was that I was at church every time the doors were open and that my daddy would be at every single game I played in…always. That is just how it was––it was the norm for my brothers and me. It just makes my heart ache when I do not see parents at games to support their children, especially if the team is having a rough go of it. Regardless of the situation you may find yourself in, nothing is more important at that moment to your child than the support that only a parent can give…nothing. So please look at your watch or phone and plan a little time to take that road trip to watch your superstar perform. You will be proud you did.
I was wearing a Timex Ironman watch that day and I had to cut that thing off my wrist with a box cutter just to get my arm out. I have not needed a watch since then…but I still find time to make time. See you at the next game!!!
