A few years ago, a friend shared a memory about his dad that truly warmed my heart.

He told me that when he was a little boy, whenever a rain shower produced a rainbow, his father would quickly gather him and his older brother, pile them into the car, and off they’d go to find the end of the rainbow.

When my friend finished the story, he smiled and added, “And, of course, we never found it!”

Oh, I think they did.

They found something far more valuable.

They found a memory of a dad who cared enough to turn an ordinary afternoon into an adventure his children would never forget. And I wouldn’t be surprised if someday they do the same thing with their own children.

And so it goes.

The time we choose to spend with our children, and the simple pleasures we share with them, can ripple through generations.

Long after the toys are forgotten, what children remember most are the moments filled with our time, attention, and love.

Over the years, I’ve talked with so many moms and dads who understand what it means to savor parenthood. Life with these little people is certainly not without challenges, frustrations, and sleepless nights.

Yet, we endure.

And would we really think about giving it all up? What, and get a good night’s sleep?

Not on your life!

Deciding to make the best of what we have, with whom we have, is a big step toward living the life we hope to remember someday.

Because one morning, years from now, we’ll look back and likely realize something:

It was all worth it.

The good news is, we don’t have to wait until then to appreciate it.

Don’t miss out.

Get down on all fours and give the best horsey-back ride you can. Never leave little feet un-tickled. Dance like a chicken. Bounce a ball inside the house. Dine on peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Put on a costume. Paint your face. Share tea with a teddy bear. Draw a dinosaur. Collect rocks. Buy the cereal for the prize inside. Sing a song even when you don’t know all the words. Build a cardboard house. Send away for something cool. Play Monopoly until somebody actually wins.

And every now and then, bring home a surprise.

Above all, gather your children and chase every rainbow you have the good fortune to see.

Catching it may be easier that you think.

~Sonny