Time

The older we get, the faster time goes away. I keep telling my kids this just like my parents told me. Of course, when you’re young, you don’t really listen to what your parents tell you. You just ‘wish your life away.’ We can’t wait until we are 13, a teenager. We can’t wait until we’re 16 so we can drive. We can’t wait until we’re 18 then 21 so we are legal!

Then it seems all of a sudden you wake up and your kids are grown and you’re 50+.

What happened?

We are so busy. Do we really take the time to enjoy it? I know I didn’t. Raising kids, there were moments that were great! But there were also moments when I couldn’t wait to get through it. Those really hard times. I can remember thinking I couldn’t wait for a certain stage to be over, but then I quickly learned that each stage as its own issues and problems.

I like to ponder why God created us the way He did. Why do we have spouses? Why do we have kids? I think it’s all the lessons we can learn from those relationships. Maybe it’s preparing us for Heaven and the relationships we’ll have there. I know the parent/child relationship that is so hard sometimes gives us just a small glimpse as to what God must have felt turning His back on His Son on the cross as Jesus took on our sins.

Sometimes I’m asked by young parents if I have any advice for them. My answer first and foremost is to pray. Pray. All. The. Time! Ultimately, that is all the control you really have with kids. We teach them, but they grow up to make their own mistakes and decisions. Our hands are tied, but they are hopefully tied in prayer.

The other thing I have said to young parents is that I know it’s hard, but enjoy it. It goes by so fast. James 4:14 says, “What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.” This is so true!

So, I’m going to try to enjoy what life I have left. I know God doesn’t want me to sit around sad. I know God doesn’t want me to focus on the mistakes I’ve made in the past, knowing I’m going to make many more in the future He gives me. I want to lift others up not bring them down. I want to be a good Christ-follower, wife, mother, daughter, and friend. I know I’ll fail sometimes, but God will forgive me.

That is what life is all about after all!