Popcorn Conversations

There are times when I have deep dreams. As if going back in time, these dreams transcend the normal dream state to a subconscious arena where all my senses are activated. Tonight was one of those dreams where I went back to a special place in time, a moment that I hold dear in my heart … popcorn conversations.

There I am, sitting at the dining room table with my yellow plate of homemade popcorn (the kind you get by shaking a pot on the stove), sitting across my dad’s room. In these philosophical moments, I had the pleasure of having the exclusive attention of one of the greatest men who ever lived. You see some men talk about conversations they had with Andrew Carnegie, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the President of the United States, or a famous celebrity. For me, he had something bigger because despite conversations with such great men, very rarely could it be said that they loved him as only a father can love a son.

The popcorn conversations were very serious in nature. These conversations did not focus on world affairs or military strategy, but on bigger issues like why does my brother keep hitting me, big words, how I’m doing in elementary school, and most importantly, who God is. These were the times when I was able to ask anything without reservation and ask “why” multiple times it was welcomed. These were the moments when I learned more about life and being a man than ever. These were the moments that I cherish and I look forward to the opportunity to use these timeless templates with my future children.

The meaning of the popcorn conversations began with a simple gesture from a father who worked long hours sharing his food with his little one at 2 in the morning. It was a sacred moment when a good man understood that it would be wrong to spend all day working hard and not take the opportunity to simply talk to his son. Instead of telling her son to go back to bed, she welcomed the opportunity to listen. This show of love made these moments personal and memorable. There were nights when there was no conversation, just father and son watching a movie together. But there were nights when tears were shed and comfort was given, or even times when instruction was needed to redirect, but with love.

Tonight’s dream brought me back to a conversation about popcorn. But this time I sat at the table without speaking, but thanking God for having a father who loves me. One who loves me enough to be there even to this day when I travel home to have popcorn conversations. I am honored to have such a great father (and mother) who listen to their son and always have a word that means a lot. A father who not only talks about the love of Christ, but also lives it and shows it.

I write this to honor parents who have popcorn conversations with their sons and daughters. To those who strive to show love through listening and simply being there. It costs $ 2 for a bag of popcorn and 1 hour of time, but the investment lasts a lifetime and the return value is priceless. Thanks dad for our popcorn conversations. You defied all odds by not having a parent around to have those conversations with you, but you set out to make a difference in your children’s lives. We love you for that and we thank God every day for you … a true man!