Who Needs You?

My brand new baby girl has been having some digestion problems that may be bordering on infant colic. Terrible to watch someone so small, especially your own child, go through that.

Late this afternoon I gave my wife a break and tried to settle the baby. I was finally able to get her to fall asleep on my chest all wrapped up in blankets while I was reclined back on the bed. When she finally fell asleep, all I wanted was for her to rest and so I stayed like that for two and a half hours until she woke.

All that time I sat looking down at her and thought about where she is now and what may unfold in her future. I thought about what she is not able to do now. She can't walk or talk, chew food, watch TV, read a book, have a conversation, touch anything on purpose, or even roll over.

Through the entire thought process it dawned on me finally what she could do and does so incredibly well. She needs me.

• She needs me to rock her to sleep.
• She needs me to sing her a lullaby.
• She needs me to put a roof over her head and provide a warm bed to sleep in.
• She needs me to protect her from anything and everything that might have the slightest potential to move a hair on her head. (Future boyfriends take note.)
• She needs me to always be that person she gets to call dad.

I'm not sure if I have completely earned it yet, but I have been bestowed with the wonderful gift of being needed by this beautiful little girl. This realization started me thinking just how important it is for all of us to win this prize along the path of our journey.

To be needed. To impact the life of another in such a way that they feel the need to have you there. To create a bond so strong that it causes us to be needed by our families and friends. By our clients and community. By anyone and anything whose life was made just a bit richer by our being there.

What a fantastic goal to set: To be needed. Oh, sure life is fleeting and we have all heard the saying that "anyone can be replaced." It's true. But for that moment, maybe just that moment when another really needs you, a big part of why we are here becomes crystal clear and we get to realize that in a very real way we matter.

Have an excellent day.