I Wonder What Their Story Is

My Dad, the Wise Guy

Gerald Miller is full of both wisdom and baloney. He has a personality and presence that builds instant friends and fans. I’m happy to say that I am both. One of the things I love about him is his way of using insight, humor, and wisdom to both get a laugh and teach a lesson. This is one of his teaching moments.

All Those People...Their Own Story

One Sunday after church, our family was sitting in the window booth of That Sandwich Place, my father-in-law’s restaurant. The whole family was there. Jill, the kids, my parents, and her parents. Okay, everyone was there except for Jill’s dad, Larry and our son, Josh. Josh was small and Larry had taken him to get some candy at The Ordinary. So there we sat, waiting for our food, talking, and just enjoying the time together. My dad was looking out the window, noticing the number of people on the busy sidewalk.

“Look at all those people out there.

Just enjoying their day.

And every one of them has their own story.”

Just then, Larry walked up to the window carrying Josh and waving at us.

Without missing a beat and sporting his signature grin, my dad said,

“I wonder what their story is.”

Humor and Wisdom

This is actually pretty normal for him. He has a keen eye for spotting opportunities to teach life lessons by simply observing the world around him. That’s one of the qualities that draws people to my dad.

The Wonder of Wondering

Dad pays attention to what’s going on around him. He makes it a habit to step back and see the bigger picture. He loves the wonder of it all. I love the fact that I grew up with parents who can see the beauty of the world around them, and I love that they taught us to understand that there’s really no such thing “just another person.” Everyone is someone’s everything. I love that. And I find that to be a beautiful thought. In case you were wondering.

I Know...Your Story

I know something about you. Even if I don’t know you, I know you are somebody’s everything. I know you are in the middle of your own unique story. I know you are not “just another person,” but I do wonder what your story is. I hope it’s a good one.

Wise Guys

So who are the wise guys in your life? Hopefully you have your own Gerald. Or maybe you the wise guy in someone else’s life? Either way, that’s great. The world needs more wise guys. And if those wise guys are full of both wisdom and baloney, that’s a beautiful thing. It makes for a great story.

Enjoy the day!