Family
Why family keeps success in perspective
The memories that stay with us are often built from ordinary minutes shared with people we love.
By Jim Ikey | Published August 13, 2026 | About 4 minutes
Family has a way of bringing the important things back into view.
I can still remember my dad coming home for lunch when I was a boy. I would heat his soup, set out crackers and a drink, and get everything ready so we could spend as much time as possible playing a game on the living-room floor. Plastic army men, little tanks, and a tennis ball were all we needed.
It was a small part of an ordinary day, but it became one of the memories I carried with me. That is the thing about family. The moments that last are rarely the expensive or impressive ones.
The memories that last
Children and grandchildren may not remember every deadline we met. They remember whether we listened, laughed, encouraged them, and kept showing up. They remember a tradition, a silly game, a meal at the table, or a story they have heard enough times to tell for us.
Family life is not perfect, and neither are any of us. It asks for patience, forgiveness, and the ability to laugh at ourselves. Those are good lessons.
Presence is part of the legacy
Success has its place, but it should make us more available to love and serve, not less. The people closest to us keep pride in check and remind us what matters.
In the end, I hope my family remembers that I loved them, prayed for them, enjoyed them, and made time for the moments that could not be scheduled twice.