That kind of moment that makes it all worthwhile …

Without thinking much about it (we don’t), what we work so hard for in life isn’t for a long life of ease, but those extraordinary, especially poignant moments loaded with special meaning.

Those moments in life that makes all the work, all the efforts, all the sacrifice worthwhile.

I saw a picture today that captured that very idea, and it moved me deeply.

The photo was taken by a mom who was attending her son’s high school graduation. In the chaos of people everywhere, she captured a picture of her son at a distance as he was gazing through the crowd looking for her.

At that very special moment in life, it was more special, more valuable — it was precious! — to him because mom was there to share in a great achievement she contributed to in a very real way. She had loved, cared for, encouraged, and challenged him to get to that moment in life; he had worked hard not just to gain success for himself, but it brought him joy to make his mother proud of him. And so he vigorously scanned the crowd until his eyes landed on his mother who was, at that same moment, taking a picture of him.

That moment when son and mother visually connected across the expanse, a moment captured in that photo, was the kind of moment that makes it all worthwhile.

Such cherished moments of human connection was highlighted in a speech given by a different mom, as reported in this story …

Then first lady Barbara Bush was asked to speak at the 1990 Commencement Ceremony of Wellesley College. Wellesley, a women’s college is world renown as a liberal bastion of feminism. Much controversy swirled around the decision to welcome the wife of a conservative, Republican president who was, herself, a stay-at-home mom.

Mrs. Bush (as she is proud to be known) decided to take advantage of the controversy and challenge the young women:

“… to cherish your human connections … As important as your obligations as a doctor, lawyer or business leader will be, you are a human being first and those human connections — with spouses, with children, with friends — are the most important investments you will ever make. At the end of your life, you will never regret not having passed one more test, not winning one more verdict, or not closing one more deal. You will regret time not spent with a husband, a friend, a child or a parent … Whatever the era … whatever the times, one thing will never change: Fathers and mothers, if you have children … they must come first. You must read to your children, you must hug your children, you must love your children.”

Don’t fool yourself that the richness of life is experienced only through grand feats. It’s those special moments when people just love each other that are some of the most cherished moments in life. Don’t miss them!

Scotty