Where are you headed?

by Don Schin

I heard it said recently, that where you started has nothing to do with where you’re going. Are you a grandfather already? Maybe your grandchildren are older. Doesn’t matter. Where you started, or even where you are now, has nothing to do with where you’re going. You can still make a difference in the lives of your grandchildren.

Maybe you are a father. Maybe your kids are older, too. You think you’ve lost your chance. You’ve blown it. It’s too late for you and your kids. You had your chance and missed it. Remember, where you started and/or where you are now, has nothing to do with where you’re going.

As future and current grandfathers, we can have tremendous influence on our families. That influence can have a tremendous impact. It can really make a difference. Why would we walk away from that opportunity? The apostle Paul said make the most of every opportunity in these evil days, this dark world (Ephesians 5:16.)

I just heard James Clear speak. He’s the author of “Atomic Habits.” That’s one thing I’m talking about here. Create habits as a grandfather, of making a difference in your children’s and grandchildren’s lives. One of Clear’s “laws” of creating great habits was to make it easy. He says use the 2-minute rule. Just get the habit started! Then you can work to improve it. Nothing can be improved until it’s established. So what simple, easy thing could you do that’s going to create a habit of influencing and impacting your children and grandchildren? You don’t have to plan a 10 day all expenses paid vacation to Disney. How about taking a walk around the block with them? Or take your child or grandchild out to ‘get coffee’ together (my grandkids get smoothies while I get my coffee.) To start, just talk to them. On their level. About things that they want to talk about or are important to them. Don’t do too much at one time. Don’t try to ‘save the world’ in one time together. Then build on that, longer times together, deeper subjects. But get the habit established of investing time with them.

So no more whining about life and how it’s passed you by. About how bad your

kids are turning out but there isn’t anything you can do about it. That its too far gone, there isn’t any time left. Get up. Be responsible. Lose the victim mentality. You are an overcomer because of your relationship with Jesus (Romans 8:37.) You can still write the last chapter of your story no matter how the story began.

The ultimate challenge here may be that you are holding onto something that’s holding you back. What is it? Its been said that we see things in others because there is a little bit of that in us too. Maybe you see in your kids what you did, and you never really succeeded at anything. Maybe you see your kids having the same bad habits as you do or did, and you just think that’s the way it’ll be for our family. Maybe you feel your life isn’t worth that much, who am I to do this, who is going to listen to me? Give it to God. Let go of it. He’s more than big and capable enough to handle anything you’ve got. 

Don Schin has extensive global experience in Asia with Fortune 500 companies. He speaks fluent Japanese. After stepping out of the corporate rat race 23 years ago he now owns a franchise broker and consulting company. Don is a seasoned professional speaker and writer, authoring the book, Can you Relate? sharing a map of his most successful years in business, so others can experience the same. Don is active in his community where his time is devoted to men’s groups, local churches, and non-profit boards including recent past chair of the Bethesda Mission, the largest rescue mission in Harrisburg, PA. He also served as the chaplain for an AA baseball team via Baseballchapel.org. Don enjoys spending time with his wife, Kim, of 45 years. They have two grown children and seven grandchildren.

 Feature Photo from Adobe Stock