My dad passed away seven years ago. He was perfectly healthy until one day he wasn't. The biggest blessing he gave me was that he was always there. My dad owned a small business and was quite successful. He also choose not to continue to expand so he could spend more time with me, my brothers, and my mom. The money wasn't the end goal for him. It allowed him to coach my baseball teams, be at important life events, and teach me everything he knew. I tell you this because when my dad got sick, I remember telling him the thing I appreciated the most was that "he was always there". It wasn't the house we lived in. It wasn't the car he bought me at 16. It wasn't the travel baseball teams he paid for. It was that he was there, present in my life. My dad passed away too soon but I appreciate now more than ever the times I get to spend with my kids. I realize the importance of those memories. I know that one day I won't be able to tell how much I love them. This weekend was a perfect example, a dad/son trip. We fished. We talked about life. We learned about Jesus. It was everything that mattered. So remember my friends, there will come a day when everyone's time on this Earth runs out. It is your choice how you spend that time. Use it wisely.