The King Is in the Field: The Hidden Parenting Lesson We Can't Afford to Miss

People often speak about the month of Elul as a season of new beginnings, when "the King is in the field" and the gates of Divine favor are especially open. I recently heard a fascinating true story that beautifully illustrates this idea, through an earthly monarch. Or, more accurately, a queen.

It turns out that Queen Elizabeth II, in her younger years, enjoyed taking walks around her estate in Scotland. Dressed in ordinary clothes, she would often stroll with only her bodyguard, Richard Griffin, who later recounted the story.

One day, two tourists were walking through a nearby park. Not recognizing the Queen, they stopped to ask whether she lived in the area.

"Yes," she replied, "I have a holiday home nearby."

One of the tourists then asked, "Since you come here often, have you ever met the Queen?"

With a smile, she answered, "I haven't — but Richard has met her many times."

The tourist was thrilled. He eagerly asked to take a photograph with Richard and handed the Queen the camera so she could take the picture. Amused, she happily photographed the delighted tourists standing beside the man who had "met the Queen."

Richard then suggested they take another photo — this time with the Queen herself, so they would at least have a picture with the woman who had taken their photograph, without revealing her true identity.

After they parted ways, the Queen remarked to Richard, "I'd love to be a fly on the wall when they get home, show these pictures to their friends, and someone tells them who the woman behind the camera really was."

Recognizing Life's Opportunities

This story offers a beautiful lesson about the opportunities that come our way, especially during Elul.

Every moment holds the potential for a genuine, eternal connection with the Creator. It would be a shame to miss those opportunities because we are distracted by temporary, technical concerns that ultimately fade away.

This story is more than a metaphor for "the King is in the field." It is also a reminder of the opportunities we have with the people closest to us.

The greatest opportunities to strengthen our relationships with our children are often hidden in the ordinary moments. We tend to dream about extravagant vacations, expensive attractions, or unforgettable adventures. There is certainly nothing wrong with those experiences, but the deepest bonds are usually built in the simplest moments: sharing a meal, shopping together, walking to the grocery store, setting the table for Shabbat or a holiday, or simply talking about the day.

Each of these seemingly ordinary moments has the potential to become something extraordinary.

Moments That Never Return

There is another lesson hidden in the story.

The tourists had no idea that this was a once-in-a-lifetime encounter. They missed an opportunity they could never recreate.

Parenting is filled with similar moments that never come back: a bedtime conversation, a drive together, a family board game after the Shabbat meal. Sometimes responsibilities and obligations make it impossible to seize every opportunity — and that's understandable. But we should never underestimate the value of investing in quality time with our children. Too often, we only realize how precious those simple moments were after they have passed.

We need not be captivated by the Queen of England. Every opportunity to connect with our children, every shared experience, every quiet conversation, is a priceless treasure. Hidden within each ordinary moment is an opportunity that may never come again.

The tourists only discovered afterward who had been standing before them. We, too, often recognize only in hindsight how valuable those ordinary moments with our children truly were.

Elul reminds us not to wait for that realization. When the King is in the field — and when your child is sitting beside you at the table — that is the opportunity.

Right now.