7/28/2023
Don’t BlinkI looked down the mudroom stairway. Wet swim suits, beach towels, tennis shoes, a few rocks and an insect net~ all sprawled out across the floor.
And I smiled to myself. My younger self would have looked at the mess and thought~more work for me. It’s never ending. My younger self would have thought it was an inconvenience. My younger self would have missed what was right in front of my eyes… I am babysitting my grandsons this week and I couldn’t help but think back to a post I wrote 10 years ago, when I was babysitting my daughter’s firstborn. Now she has four. Four boys. I remember telling her how much she should cherish this time and I entitled the article~ “Before You Blink”. It seems like it was yesterday when I wrote that. It seems like it was just yesterday and I was here babysitting and looking down these very steps at wet mittens and scarves, hats, boots and coats. I blinked and winter turned to spring and spring turned to summer. Where did the months go? Where did the years go? I think about my own mudroom and the revolving seasons that passed all too quickly. Comings and goings. And now, gone. Little voices asking for help with their mittens and zippers. Little smiles with ice cream drippings and watermelon juice. Little requests for one more push on the swings. Swim suits and beach towels. Cleats and tennis shoes. Learners permits, sport paraphernalia, endless trips to the washing machine~ and beautiful memories. And now, I get to do it all over again with my grandchildren. And what a gift that is. And today as I looked down at our newest, little Ivy who is only one week old, I remember my words to my daughter. Cherish these moments, because you will blink and they will be gone. I knew all too well how much truth was in that statement and yet, I blinked and ten years flew by. I blinked and my babies had babies. Her wide little eyes looked up at me and it was almost as if I could see how quickly these days will pass. “Don’t grow too fast precious, little one” I whispered. Sometimes we get so bogged down with our todays that we don’t think about our tomorrows and how much we will miss. We miss the blessings right in front of us as time plays on a loop, and days and seasons run into each other. Hit the pause button. Mama, there is absolutely nothing that is more important than these moments. Right now. Raising your children. Get on the floor with them. Laugh with them. Play with them. Dance with them. Sing with them. Listen to them. Be with them. Look at the wet swim suits and beach towels, the winter coats and hats and understand~please understand~ that those are not inconveniences. They are tremendous gifts from God. |
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