For My Son

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We were sitting on the balcony in the quiet of the evening, just watching the sky together.

My son held his fingers tight. And looked up at me with shining eyes.

"Dad... when I grow up, I want to be someone who always helps others."

I smiled hearing this, touched by the pure and kind heart behind his words.

But what he said triggered a thought about what we could be doing if we were ever going to be able to actually raise other people up with our hearts.

So, I put my hand gently on his shoulder pointing towards the tall tree in the distance saying, “What you have here son is great! What I’m talking about though is building your heart so it will be strong enough to really help.”

He frowned a little, looking confused.

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"Imagine someone you love falls into a deep ravine down that hill," I continued. "If you want to pull them up to safety, you have to be standing firmly on the top first. You can only lift people if you are in a position to reach down. If you’re stuck at the bottom right next to them, how can you pull anyone up?"

He nodded slowly, processing the thought.

That’s why you have to work on your own climb first. You’ve got to strive for success through gaining knowledge, wisdom, character, and influence. Then when you’re at a height where pulling others along with you doesn’t feel like an effort, go ahead and do just that!

I gently stroked his hair.

Hold onto that kindness and positivity, son. You’re amazing just as you are, but at the same time, invest all your effort into reaching your personal peak.

Start with yourself to help those that matter most. Work hard and become your strongest version.

Then, he nods his head as though considering what I've just said.

He waited for a few seconds before turning around to look at me with concern.

"Dad... what if I help someone up, and they end up climbing even higher than me?"

Now that he asked me that question, I couldn’t help but give him one of the most important lessons in all of human-kind.

Looking directly into his eyes, here’s what I told him:

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"A truly great person will reach the top, build a path for all of us to follow. Look at those birds flying above us," I pointed up to the sky. “You’ve reached the top, now help others.” And if someone you lifted passes you by and reaches even greater heights, you should celebrate them. The one thing you must never do is kick someone down just because they are rising."

He stayed quiet, listening intently.

"Kicking someone down doesn't keep you at the top, son. It just drops your soul to the absolute lowest place. A person who fears others succeeding will never stand securely on any peak, because their mind is full of fear and jealousy."

I wrapped my hand around his warmly.

A Truly Great Person

Reaches the Top, Builds a Path for Others to Follow & Claps With Pure Joy When Those They Helped Soar Even Higher Than Themselves.

His eyes lit up with clear understanding. He squeezed my hand tightly and said,

"I understand, Dad," my little boy said. “I'm gonna try my best to be the strongest me possible! And when I am up there, I will never ever shove anyone down. All I want to do is put my hand out and help lift them up.”