Buy The Blueberries...

Life is fragile, and recent events remind us that we never know how much time we truly have. The sudden death of Charlie Kirk is a sobering reminder that tomorrow is never promised. While this is not meant to be a political reflection, it is a reminder of the urgency of time, the preciousness of family, and the small choices we make each day that build a lifetime of memories.

In the days following Charlie’s passing, his wife Erika shared a touching story about their young daughter. The little girl asked where her father was, and Erika gently replied, “Baby, daddy loves you so much. Don’t you worry. He’s on a work trip with Jesus, so he can afford your blueberry budget.” 

In that moment, blueberries became more than fruit. They became a symbol of love, care, and the everyday things a father does for his children.

That story has stayed with me. 

“Buy the blueberries” is not about the cost, or even about blueberries themselves. It is about doing the little things for our children that show love, care, and presence. Charlie can no longer buy blueberries for his family, and that reality pushes me to think about what I can still do for mine.

It is not always grand gestures or expensive gifts that matter most. It is the meaningful things, the shared time, the tiny traditions that build into lifelong memories. 

When our twin daughters were babies and still strapped into their car seats, I made a habit of taking them to Cracker Barrel every Saturday morning so my wife could sleep in. What started as a simple gesture soon became a ritual, a reminder that love often shows itself in the most ordinary moments. Our girls do not actually remember those breakfasts, but even now they ask me to tell the stories of those mornings, and in a way, the telling has become just as meaningful as the moments themselves.

Our family traditions at Christmas carried that same spirit. For years, Rudolph and his electrified red nose magically appeared in our backyard on Christmas Eve. The girls would run to the upstairs window, eyes wide, filled with wonder and belief. To this day, that memory shines brighter than any gift under the tree. It was simple, a little bit of work and imagination, but it created joy that still lives in their hearts.

Now our children are in their twenties, and both are about to get married. My role as a father looks different than it did when they were little, but it hasn't ended. I can still do the sweet things, the unexpected things that delight and surprise them. It may not be Cracker Barrel breakfasts or Rudolph’s glowing nose anymore, but there are always ways to show them that their dad loves them and is thinking of them.

Children rarely remember the price tag. What they remember is your attention, your laughter, and the way you made them feel seen and cared for. Whether it is buying blueberries, playing catch in the yard, or reading the same bedtime story for the hundredth time, these are the gifts that last.

So here is my challenge, to myself and to you. 

Do one small thing today for your children. Take the walk. Sit on the porch and listen. Keep the silly traditions alive. None of us know how much time we have, and that is what makes each small act of love so important. 

So whatever it looks like for you, big or small, buy the blueberries.