I recently attended the funeral for a dear friend’s father. He was a great man and much-loved (evidenced by the way everyone spoke of him both before and after his death). During the service, I was fortunate enough to witness one moment of striking beauty.

My friend’s husband (also a dear friend of mine) was eulogizing his father-in-law of about a year, and doing an excellent job. Both he and my other friend faced tumultuous times the past few years. So When he spoke of blending their two families in marriage, with five total children (two of which have the same name), I looked up to the front row to see his wife (my friend) sitting with the children. His middle daughter was sitting in her lap, just looking into my friend’s eyes. I watched as this eight year old girl who had lost her own mother just a little over two years before, tenderly wiped the tears from her stepmother’s eyes. I then felt my own tears arrive and I knew that whenever I thought about that day, that funeral, this is the moment I will remember most. A little moment, but one of such beauty.

As we went home, I found my mind turning to little moments from my own life. Tiny little moments that have grown large in my memory.

I thought of being a senior in high school still trying to figure where I fit in and having a small group of college students ask ,”Hey, you want to come along?” when they all went to eat.

Of the first time I was asked to speak in front of anyone and not thinking I could do it only to hear my camp counselor say, “You may not think you can, but I believe you can.”

Of the random smile from someone whose name I will never know brightening a dark day they had no way of knowing I was experiencing.

Of seeing the girl who would become my wife for the first time.

Of my daughter asking me for “Three hugs, three kisses.”

Of my son falling sleep in my lap.

Of all the times I might have been able to make a similar little moment for someone else, but squandered the opportunity.

Of all the chance little moments I did take advantage of.

It occurred to me how often we do things that seem insignificant, but take on great meaning for others. Those slices of time that become the important little moments for them.

Mostly, I realized how much we should treasure and enjoy the little moments. They make the biggest memories.

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