If you have young children it is a common occurrence to hear the words uttered, “Enjoy every moment
because before you know it they are gone.” Seriously, I hear it all the time. At the grocery store, walking down the street, at a department store, in a park. . . everywhere.
When the kids were infants and we were exhausted by babies that preferred night hours to day hours I thought these people were crazy. I wanted invite them over to do the midnight feedings and then ask them how much they enjoyed it. Five years later, though. . . I feel very different.
Just this week I was sitting in the library watching my kids amongst several other children and realized that Charlie and Chanelle were the older kids in the group. I looked around at the other women with newborns and infants and felt that urge to tell them to enjoy every bit of it because it. goes. fast.
Tonight we went to Charlie’s pre-school open house and I was hit hard with the reality. . . he’s growing up. Wow, how did we get here? I remember how shy and timid he was last year when we went to the same open house. This year, however, he was confident walking from here to there and showing me all the things he loves to do.
One thing I have figured out, though, is that it does go fast. . . it is going fast. When those mothers who have walked the journey before me tell me to enjoy it, I no longer respond with just a polite smile and a silent sarcastic response. Now, their wise words are met with an enthusiastic, “Oh, believe me. . . I do!”
And, as I think about it. . .Such wisdom holds true in every area of life. It’s not just parenthood that goes fast. . . but time goes fast. . . life goes fast. And if that’s true I want to live it as fully and joyfully as possible. And it is this reality that draws my attention toward the things in life that matter. . .
What really does matter? I suspect that with each season of life the answer to this might change. Perhaps there would be 100 different answers from 100 different people. But for me, on this cool November evening, people matter. Love matters. Telling the people I love that I love them. . . that matters. And I truly believe if my time were to come to an end this would be the only thing that matters.
keep it, but you can spend it. Once you’ve lost it you can never get it back.
-Harvey MacKay
cute kiddos, solid words, thanks for sharing!
This is so true. I often reflect on just how quickly time moves and how blessed I am. I think it's so important to let the people I love know that I love them. The other end of this spectrum for me is having a grandmother who was always so young and agile becoming so frail. I want to avoid it but if I do that then I miss the time I've been gifted with her. Great post!
This hit me hard this week….
Someone told me I need to start looking into preschools for my 2 year old for next year. All of the sudden, my chest was heavy with anxiety. How in the world is it almost time for preschool already?!?! Then, as I'm about to have a panic attack, I look over and my 7 month old pulled herself up on the coffee table and was holding on by one finger. ONE FINGER. The girl is about to walk. Where the heck does the time go?!?! Emotions galore in my house. …and hugs to go with it. Maybe the tighter I hug them, time with slow down just a bit. 😉
So very true. It's amazing how time seems to go soooo sllooooowlllyyy when you're a kid (at least it seemed that way to me), when all you want to do is grow up and do grown-up things. And once you get there, you just want everything to SLOW DOWN again. Sigh. 🙂
Sassy. . . I wish it worked that way. Whether it does or doesn't. . . I'll still hug tight.
Oh my goodness – this really is so true.
Wow.
I know Summer, time does go quickly. I can't believe I have a 21 and 18 year old sons. We do need to enjoy each stage of life.
What really matters is that we tell those we love that we love them. And that we keep our relationship with Jesus Christ as our number one priority so life goes so much smoother even the bumps in the road.
oh I just love love love this post!
every. single. word.
I get that urge so deep in my soul when I see young babes with their moms and I end up blurting it out- even though I try so hard to not be that annoying mom- I can't help it. It's such a fine line to walk between joy and sorrow…for the time I have with them now and for the time they will soon be moving away from me. ughhh….
This is my first blog experience. I love reading your writings and plan to be a regular visitor. I miss the times we had when we were in seminary and this is a great way to catch up. Happy Blogging!