Drain Joy To the Dregs Without Delay

Snatch the pleasures your children bring, let your children in turn find delight in you, and drain joy to the dregs without delay.” — Seneca.

As a father and grandfather I really relate to Seneca’s admonition. Yet, there are times when I don’t take advantage of the joy that naturally flows from my children and grandchildren. I lose my cool when they scream, when the fight or disobey, when they don’t do what I think they should do, and sometimes I’m just that crotchety old man for no good reason. Like children I must work at being the best I can be, learn to snatch the pleasures they bring, finds ways for children to delight in my presence, and most importantly drain joy every single moment I am in their presence.

I take some console in knowing I may not be the only parent who needs to heed Seneca’s words. I suspect most of us are all in that boat. As for today, let’s see if I can’t drain the dregs. What about you?

 

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About the author

Webb Hubbell is the former Associate Attorney General of The United States. His novels, When Men Betray, Ginger Snaps, A Game of Inches, The Eighteenth Green, and The East End are published by Beaufort Books and are available online or at your local bookstore. When Men Betray won one of the IndieFab awards for best novel in 2014. Ginger Snaps and The Eighteenth Green won the IPPY Awards Gold Medal for best suspense/thriller. His latest, “Light of Day” will be on the bookstands soon.