Last week, we traveled to Orlando, Florida, with seven kids and three adults for my son’s Make-A-Wish experience. The entire adventure was a whirlwind of activity that began the moment we entered Love Field to start our journey. My heart was full as I watched my kids' eyes dance with anticipation for the flight and the fun ahead.

To say that this was the trip of a lifetime would be an understatement. The Make-A-Wish North Texas team perfectly planned our trip, and that afforded us the freedom to be fully present with each of our children. We were also blown away by the hospitality and support we received from Southwest Airlines, Universal Studios, Disney, SeaWorld, and, most of all, the staff and volunteers at Give Kids the World Village. 

Give Kids the World was founded by Henri Landwirth, a Holocaust survivor who spent five years in two different concentration camps during World War II. When the war was over, Henri learned that his sister Margot had survived, but both of his parents had been killed. The two siblings immigrated to America, and Henri soon served in the Army during the Korean War.  After his service, he found his way in hotel management, eventually owning a Holiday Inn in Orlando.

Fueled by his childhood experience, Henri began offering hotel rooms to children with life-threatening illnesses who wished to visit Disney World in the 1980s.  One child’s story changed everything for Henri. As he worked to help a young girl named Amy arrange a complimentary stay in Orlando with her family, the rest of the details of her scheduling took too long, and she passed away before the trip could be completed.

That unfulfilled wish sparked Henri’s inspiration to create Give Kids the World in hopes that no child would ever have to go through what happened to Amy.

Launched in 1986, Give Kids the World is an 89-acre resort that provides week-long wish vacations at no cost for critically ill children and their families. The all-inclusive wish package includes transportation, accommodations, food, theme park tickets, and on-site entertainment. As part of each wish kid’s special stay at Give Kids the World, they are asked to decorate a star that is then added to the ceiling inside the Castle of Miracles. The entire star ceremony was very moving, as we were able to watch Benny’s star placed among the more than 200,000 others from Wish Kids that came before us.

My family visited seven (yes, that’s right, seven) of the most well-known theme parks during our trip and made countless new memories at each stop along the way. Even with all the rides, characters, food, and games, nothing on our trip compared to the feeling we had during our hangouts at Give Kids the World. Each time we visited the ice cream shop, gathered for a family meal, or strolled back and forth from our villa to the central part of the complex, we felt connected to one another and grateful to God for the chance to enjoy life with one another.

It turns out that the simplest and most ordinary moments of our trip were also the ones that felt the most special. That also rings true for the last few decades of my career. There are many times when I’ve been on stage to receive an award, signed on the dotted line during the successful purchase or sale of a company, or sold a huge deal. Still, none of those milestones come to mind when I reflect on my favorite days or working alongside my coworkers as we solved problems and lived life together.

Our Make-A-Wish trip ultimately served as a clear reminder that every day is a wish come true. That is why I don’t take time with my family for granted while simultaneously thanking God for all the tasks that I get to do each day at work.

A Work Wish for You

If I could grant a wish for you, it would be that you start each new week by saying, 'Thank God it’s Monday," and enjoy the simple, ordinary parts of each day.