The last thing I wanted to hear when I was chasing a 13 month old who was constantly climbing tables and had been since he started walking at 9 months, while I had my other baby latched onto my breast dangling mid air all while my 4 year old was in the kitchen "trying" to make breakfast (not to mention the fact that I was doing in home daycare for multiple other children at the same time) was "Treasure this time, it goes so fast." Treasure that time? ...the crazy, the weariness, the loneliness in the midst of chaos, the longing for my husband to come home and rescue me, the dirty diapers, the fatigue, the feeling of being a milking station, the sleepless nights (shall I go on)...treasure that? You have got to be kidding me!! Yet, here I am. Apparently, I survived..... my bra size a bit smaller, my stomach a bit flabbier, my stretch marks a testimony to my labor, my wrinkles (3 of them) a badge of the times I spent laughing my way to borderline sanity and my babies now grown. Those voices ring in my head, the voices telling me to treasure it up, because they grow so fast and my response of not wanting to, I just wanted to survive the day without a major catastrophe. I just wanted them to hurry up. Well my wish came true. Time hurried up, time did not wait, my babies grew up. My babies now look out for me. My babies have their own opinions, their own ideas, their own relationships. My babies don't poop or pee in their pants anymore and don't need me to cut their nails or wipe their nose. My babies.....what happened to the time?
I look at myself and wonder, because I know it was just yesterday that they needed me, I know it was just yesterday that they would fall and want me to kiss their owie and make it better. I am sure that it was just the other day when they wouldn't go to bed unless I tucked them in. They grew up. I try my hardest to not be that person... you know, the one who is on the other side passing down those words "Treasure this time, it goes so fast" to the younger moms, but the reality is whether you treasure it up, take it for granted, hold your breath or wish it away, time marches on. Babies grow up and move out and then all you have are the memories of the precious chaos of days gone by. So, to my Moms that are in the thick of it; It's true, the time with your young children goes fast so, embrace the crazy that is before you. Don't run from it, jump in it and dance in it...out crazy the crazy, turn the world upside down. Seek God hard in the loneliness, learn to trust him more in your weariness. Change the poop with pride, don the stretch mark as your banner, the wrinkles and bags under your eyes as a testimony to the fact that you are not defeated. You have lived to take on another day! And my friends, that truly is a gift! You see, one day, you will be like me, standing where I am, wondering how it all happened and where the time went and it will take all your willpower to not sound like THAT PERSON! Yet, here I stand with my grown-up babes and one day, Lord willing, you will too. Now someone go get me some grandbabies!!! Let's do this!! Love you in the Lord, Mia
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Feeling kinda down tonight. Part of it is that I am literally very tired. Part of it is my natural body rhythm after I have been on the road and I begin to decompress. Most of it, however, is the new reality that I am walking into.....#PreEmptyNestSyndrome Spent the evening sending my daughter, my last of three, my baby-girl off to her senior prom. I am not a highly emotional person when it comes to milestones, but this one got me. Prom seems to be one of the first of the many last events as the school year comes to a close. I know that time goes fast, but I'm just not ready for it to go this fast. I look at my friends who are the same age or older than me chasing after toddlers longing to get past the diaper stage. My words of "Cherish every moment, they will be gone in the blink of an eye" seem pointless and un-reassuring. Yet, here I stand, just barely in my 40's with a son graduating college next week, a daughter about to enter college and a middle son in the midst of it. How did this happen? Even more amazing of "How did this happen?".... Is how did these kids happen to turn out so amazing? When people ask me about my kids, I tend to say "They are NOTHING like me when I was their age!" That is a huge compliment. My children love the Lord, love each other (more now than when they were younger) and respect their parents. They are active in school activities, Bible study, serving others in need....They don't drink, they don't smoke and they don't do drugs. See they are nothing like me when I was their age. And honestly I don't know how that happened....not sure how I didn't completely screw them up. Kudos to their Dad and his constant presence in their lives. The other thing I know is that for reasons beyond what I can imagine, the Lord had and continues to have His hand of protection on them. There really is no other explanation. Basically, He protected them from me when I couldn't. Back to the point....I'm down, I'm a bit depressed, but still I rejoice at the gifts my babies are and always will be as they grow, walk out their calling in life and begin to impact the next generation. I have to constantly trust that God loves them more than I do, so His hands are truly the safest place for them to be. But it's still hard to see my baby girl grow up. Most days, I just want them to curl back up and crawl up on my lap and cuddle with their Mama. But instead I get to send baby-girl off to prom (glad that she went with friends and no date...totally not ready for that!) To my Miriam Evangel: I love you and I am so proud off you. Walking you off to your last Prom was pure joy and such an honor. My heart is full and in awe of the young women that you are and the women that you will become in Christ! Trusting God for the future.
The past..treasured in my heart forever. |
The BlogA collection of writings from a life based on the truth that about midnight anything can happen. AuthorAs an imperfect servant of the Lord, I often feel I am fumbling my way through life, looking upward for guidance and outward to love. So, I write about it, to break up the noise in my head. Categories
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