Influence?

I have been thinking about influence lately. And the more I think about it, the less I'm sure I know.

Saturday, my daughter graduated from high school. I have to admit that for whatever reason, her graduation has been a little less emotional for me than my son's graduation was 3 years ago. I can't think of any reason why that would be the case other than that I have already been through it once. The time I felt most emotional about her graduation was when I was sitting in church on Sunday. It struck me how so much of the influence I will have in my daughter's life is already done. Not only is she a 17 year old young woman who can and does think for herself....and has for a long time....but soon she won't even live with us.

On August 22nd of this year, she will move out of our house. By September 1st, she will have spent more consecutive days away from me than she has at any time in her life. By the end of her first semester at college, I will have seen her two times in four months. That will probably equal all the time she has spent away from me for her entire life previous to that time. Wow! Tell me that doesn't make a parent think.

I guess that leads to the part where the more I think about it, the less I know. Does her moving away from me mean I will have less influence? After all, I will be hundreds of miles away as she lives her day to day life. Or, does her moving away mean I have more influence because she will live life on her own, but influenced by what I might have taught her over the last 17 years?

Hmmm. I'm not sure. Any thoughts? I do know for sure that I will miss her like crazy.

Comments

[Joe]

Will, your influence will never end.

When I left for college, my Dad said "If I haven't done my job by now, I never will." He was right. And he did. And I'm running a race on Saturday to honor him. 14 years after his death.

Yeah, you will influence.