“No man is free who is not master of himself.” Epictetus
Psychiatrist Ross Campbell from Chattanooga, Tennessee, tells this story.
One Friday evening a father arrived home and was greeted by his highly enthusiastic twelve-year-old son who said, “Dad, I’m so excited about our fishing trip this weekend!”
The father didn’t say anything, but he was crushed because he had forgotten the fishing trip and had arranged a golf foursome for the next day. To his credit he smiled and said, “Me too, son. We’ll get an early start tomorrow morning.”
Early Saturday morning they started the two-hour drive to the lake.
On the way a heavy rain started falling and when they arrived at the campsite it was still pouring.
They had to wait until early afternoon to set up their tent. Once that was done,
even though it was still raining, they ventured out on the lake and spent a couple of hours getting soaked – but no fish.
The next morning it was still raining but once again they went back out on the lake and again got soaked without a single nibble – nothing.
At about four o’clock that afternoon they headed back home, cold and miserable.
The boy went upstairs, took a warm shower and prepared for an early dinner and trip to bed.
In the meantime, father was bitterly lamenting the weekend, saying it was
“absolutely miserable, a complete waste of time!” Later that evening the mother showed her husband something the son had written in his journal just before he went to bed: “Most wonderful weekend of my life! I had my dad all to myself – just the two of us.”
Message: Our kids want and need their parents’ love and undivided attention on occasion.
That weekend was a “difference maker” in that father-son relationship. Take that approach, take it often, and I’ll SEE YOU AT THE TOP!
Zig Ziglar is known as America’s Motivator.
He authored 33 books and produced numerous life-changing programs.
He will be remembered as a man who lived out his faith daily.
BY : ziglar
This article was published in 3alamaltanmya
sponsored by Future Builders International Academy
Led by Dr.Maha Fouad
