A lawyer lived 500 miles away from her elderly father. Months had passed since they last saw each other. One day, her father called and asked gently, “When are you coming for a visit?”
The daughter, caught up in her busy life, replied with a long explanation about her demanding schedule, court cases, meetings, and other commitments that made visiting difficult.
After listening patiently, the father said, “I have been wondering about something. When I die, do you plan to come to my funeral?”
The lawyer, startled and emotional, responded, “Dad, how could you even ask that? Of course, I’d come!”
The father paused and replied, “Good. Let’s make a deal. Forget the funeral—I need you more now than I will then.”
Spiritual Lesson
This story is a powerful reminder of the importance of prioritizing time for loved ones while they are still with us. In the rush of daily life, we often neglect those who matter most, believing we’ll find time “later.” But as the father in the story wisely points out, the present moment is what truly matters.
The Bhagavad Gita (3.21) teaches: “Whatever action a great person performs, common people follow. Whatever standards they set, the world pursues.” Taking time for loved ones not only enriches their lives but sets an example for others to value relationships over material pursuits.
Love and relationships are not about grand gestures; they are nurtured through small, consistent acts of care, presence, and connection. Just as the father in the story requested, let’s not wait for funerals to show up for the people we cherish. Instead, let’s make time to be present now, creating memories and bonds that transcend even the limits of life.
