How much time do we have left?

[Br'er_Henry]

Been there... one day I was hanging out with my gf and friends and somehow realized that my dad went to the baseball game by himself and was walking 18 blocks from the stadium to our house all alone that night. I remembered his face 5 years before that when he took me to the ball game a few days every week during the season. I realized it was my time to pay back. We haven't missed at least one game per week since then. We can't change the past.. but we can sure do A LOT for our future. When the day comes, I'll know I did my best, and I'll let him go peacefully with God.

[TxCazador]

" Never we know "

James 4:14 Says" What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.

[flywise]

When I was 37 my wife and I had our first child. And 15 months later we had our second. I did spend as much time hunting and golfing as I could befor the kids were born. And even after they came along I wanted to play all I could. I went on a hunting trip in Colorado a couple weeks after my daughter was born. I found that being away from her and my wife wasn't much fun. I miss my family when I'm gone. I want to be with them all I can. Time really flies by.I do still go to Coloradoor New Mexico one time a year to hunt. But going to the lease on ever day off has pretty much stopped. Now I go on a morning hunt and home by 1 or 2. Or afternoon hunt only. But they will be old enough to go with me before too long and we will spend plenty of time in the woods together for sure.

[TXZiggy]

I've got the opposite problem (as I don't have a wife/kids) in that I don't see my parents and the rest of my family but 3 or 4 times a year because they live 1000 miles away. I sometimes wonder whether I should be living closer to them. We're close and talk very regularly but like i said, the visits are sparse. I'm just not sure how to solve the issue of how I love living in TX (came to college down here and never moved back) which in turn causes me to see less of my family.

[keep]

" Never we know "

James 4:14 Says" What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.

"Never we know" is fitting isn't it?

[keep]

I've got the opposite problem (as I don't have a wife/kids) in that I don't see my parents and the rest of my family but 3 or 4 times a year because they live 1000 miles away. I sometimes wonder whether I should be living closer to them. We're close and talk very regularly but like i said, the visits are sparse. I'm just not sure how to solve the issue of how I love living in TX (came to college down here and never moved back) which in turn causes me to see less of my family.

You can easily replace the word family with the words friends and all of this still applies.

[ripit]

When the wind blows it scatters the seeds all over the land, and when the seeds take root the ties are not broken just made stronger. And then the cycle again happens and the ties are even stronger.

This was told to me by a very wise person that is no longer in my life and it is exactly the truth. It took me several years to understand what my Grandfather ment by this and I now know. Deep maybe, the truth yes.. Keep we know each other well yet you do not know me on here and we carry the same feelings and thoughts..

Take the time to see what is around you and live for today as tomorrow is always today and our todays are numbered.... Dont stop living but live even more everyday and share it...

God bless us all...

[TXZiggy]

You can easily replace the word family with the words friends and all of this still applies.

Good point. If I were to move back north, most of my friends would be down here and I could write that same paragraph with "friends" substituted for "family"

[outdoordaddy]

Good read keep!

[Texpppr]

I never got married but moved closer to my parents 7 years ago. I had to take a job with less pay etc. I realized that they won't be around forever. I take my step Dad (In his 70's) hunting with me on a regular basis.

[D C]

There is not a day that goes by that I do not think about this topic.... Im 24 now, married and love my wife and my life and family. There are certain things that I would have done different if I had the chance again, but thats what made me the man I am today. Since being here on TBH I have learned to appreciate life and live it up. I used to be mad for days about if I had a bad round of golf or if I shot bad. Now I cant get upset without thinking how stupid it is of me to be upset over something that small. I know exactly where Im going and am ready to go home when GOD is ready for me.

[MrsConnally]

Derek, you are such a wonderful man and the second I saw this thread I knew you would have responded. You keep trying to teach me to live everyday like it's my last and to stop sweating the small stuff. It's so hard because everyday obstacles are sooooo overwhelming. Let's make an effort to take the good with the bad, the happy and the sad and know there's a reason God does everything!

[Codie]

I had a couple things happen today that got me thinking that you just don't know when you'll be called home or if you have spent the time you had wisely.
1) We have been planning a caribou hunt and have been paying on it for 2 yrs. Well the last payment was made today. I started thinking about the road to get there. Two years ago my boy was not even 2 yet and my daughter was 9. The two years went by in the blink of an eye and pass quicker each day. Sometimes I think I get so focused on hunts I forget to enjoy the time with family and friends and fail to take the time to just watch them, take it all in and enjoy it.
2) Stopped by a client's today and he runs the company with his family. One of his kids that was going to run the company when he retires has gotten sick and the prognosis isn't good. He's young, 43, and his kids are 3 and 5 and don't understand what is going on nor do they know there is limited time left with dad unless he gets a hand from above. He never had a clue there was an issue a couple months ago and now he stands to loose everything. How hard would it be to look at your kids and know you only have a short while until you don't see them again? Or that you won't be there to help them or watch them grow up.

Now that last situation coupled with the first makes me step back and re-access if I'll be disappointed with how I spent my time when the end is staring me in the face.

The EXACT reason I don't mind getting grief from all of my "buddies"(who are always away from the house spending their time with their OTHER passions in life instead of their family) when they want me to go hunting or golfing every weekend. I COULDN'T enjoy hunting or golf knowing that my little boy is back at home wondering why "DADDY" is gone hunting/golfing again. There is a happy medium there for me where I can still enjoy the other things in my life that I have a passion for (hunting/golf) and still be present as a husband and father on the weekends as I am throughout the week. I am sure there will come a time in life (once our kids are grown up) when I will feel more comfortable making time for my other passions in life, but right now just isn't that time.

[ETEXASHUNTER]

Great post.....not only should we cherish time with family, but remeber to share His Love.....even if it in a hunting camp.

I agree, Life is short and we make choices everyday that can make it shorter. BUt don't become a Hermit to the thought of what if.. Become a search light of Life instead.

[raiderelkhunter]

Great thread for a new dad like myself. Sorry I have nothing to add, I am just taking all of the posts in and pondering over them...