Opinion
The grandfather who changed a lot
Saturday, March 25, 2017
A young boy and his grandfather were sitting in a boat with their fishing poles, enjoying the early morning breeze when the young boy, breaking the silence, looked up at his grandfather and asked, "grandpa, am I going to change all the time like you did?"
The grandfather looked down at the boy a little confused and seeing the very serious look on the boy's face asked, "How do mean change?" The boy then replied, "Well, Dad said when he was little you were super strong and could do almost anything. Then when he was a little older you got weaker but you were still funny and he liked to do stuff with you a lot."
The boy stopped talking for a moment and stared out over the lake. He appeared to be almost sad when he said, "Then when he was a teenager, dad said you weren't very smart anymore and not as nice because you wouldn't let him do what he wanted." The frown on the boy's face started to change to a smile as he said, "But dad said when he got a little older, you started to get smarter again and helped him a lot and he could ask you for anything when he needed help."
The grandfather was beginning to understand what the boy was talking about and asked, "So what does your dad tell you now?" The little boy got a big smile on his face and said, "Now that you're old, dad says you're his best friend and that I need to go fishing with you."
A smile crossed the grandfathers face, but he didn't say anything and simply stared into the water, deep in thought. After a few minutes the boy tugged on his shirt and impatiently said, "Grandpa, you didn't answer me, am I going to change all the time too or not?"
The grandfather chuckled and said, "I reckon you will little guy, I reckon you will." The little boy let out a very loud sigh and casting his fishing line into the water said, "Well that's just great, I'll probably get gray hair like you too." The grandfather then began to chuckle as the boy watched him with a quizzical look on his face not understanding what was so funny.
Parents influence their children, teachers educate their students, and leaders inspire others to become greater. No matter what position you are in, you will have some type of influence on someone else. It may be a child, a friend, a co-worker, or a stranger that crossed your path, but every day you are setting some type of example, be it good or bad.
Often those we seek to help appear unwilling or unable to change or accept the help they are given. But just like a child who does not always understand the actions of a parent or teacher, the image they see in others can be clouded by their own understanding of the world around them and what they have been exposed to. But those who have chosen a path of destruction are still in need of someone to be that positive influence in their life, and even if it appears they are not listening or willing to change, what they see in you will stay with them for a long time to come.
Just like a child who thinks the parent is the one who is changing, sometimes it takes patience and a caring heart to make a positive impact on another. When we refuse to give up on others, they began to have faith in themselves. Even though as law enforcement officials we must arrest and detain those who break the law, we are still hoping that these individuals will choose to make a positive change in their lives and that our influence will be that positive influence, though it may come at a price.