Thursday, January 14, 2010
In the Blink of an Eye
Doesn't my hubby look handsome?
Our youngest was a ham:
Our oldest did his best to behave himself, amidst all that formal wear:
Now, I've been to plenty of weddings in my life, but this one really hit me in a unique way.
You see, Nate is Chris's baby brother. They are 12 years apart.
When Chris and I first met in high school, Nate was 4. I remember him as the little kid who would come into the McDonald's that I worked at, and stand on his tippy-toes to peep at me over the counter. He and his dad would have breakfast there on Saturday mornings, and I made his day by allowing him to get his own apple juice out of the fridge.
That was 18 years ago.
10 years ago this January, I married Christopher, his big brother--my best friend since those high school days. Nate was 12 then, and despite being the youngest groomsman, he took his responsibilities seriously and looked awfully sweet in that tuxedo.
Now, I don't feel as though I've aged that much in the past ten years, but Nate has sure grown up. He went from 8th grader to married man in a nanosecond!
How did that happen? Where did the time go?
Then, it occurred to me:
10 years from now, that too-smart-for-his-own-good boy of mine, making faces at the camera, will be...(gulp!)...
15 years old.
We will be teaching him geometry. We will be teaching him to drive. We will be teaching him how to treat young ladies with respect.
That little baby princess in the flower girl dress will be 13!
When I think about the girl I was at that age, the thought both excites me and scares me to death!
LORD, help us!
And that toddler in the suit--that little bundle of energy and muscle, passion and will--he will be 11!
We'd better earn his heart and respect now, because by then, he'll probably be able to take us down if he has a mind to!
Friends, maybe we've heard it a million times, but the time we have with our children is very short. We need to make the most of the time, because we live in an evil, fallen world (Ephesians 5:16), and we don't get a second chance to raise them right.
They grow up way too fast.
Some days...okay, many days...I am exhausted.
Training a son, bringing up a daughter, and keeping up with a toddler is draining.
And rewarding.
More than I can handle.
And what I absolutely must do.
Father, give me Your grace and Your strength to be a godly wife and mother. Help me to raise my little ones in a way that honors and glorifies You. I cannot do it on my own.
"Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit" says the LORD of Hosts.
Zechariah 4:6
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About Me
- Tiana
- I'm a Stay-at-Home, Christian, "crunchy" mama. I have been blessed with the calling to be a godly wife and mother. I am passionate about bringing up my children in the discipline and instruction of the LORD, through home education and discipleship. Helpmeet to my best friend and soulmate, Christopher since 1/29/2000, and mama to four little blessings, including a tiny, precious, newborn baby girl.
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3 comments:
Okay, I'm wiping tears from my eyes...
Remembering my 14 yr old Caleb toddling under the trees of our farmhouse in TN; wasn't that just last month? And budding 13 yr old Autumn, precociously racing around the house as a 3 yr old cheetah; it must have been last week. Oh, and sweet 9 yr old Eliza, crawling to put her forehead to Daddy's; seems like that was just yesterday! Yes, the years have flown, and (gulp) we find ourselves teaching the older kids about driving, purity, respect, responsibility, free-agency...while still marveling at another precocious 5 yr old, a tender-hearted 3 yr old, a darling pink-bowed toddler, and the gift of a baby to arrive any day now.
Can I just agree with you? Sometimes I'm so TIRED! Thanks for the reminder to redeem the time, and to trust in Christ's power for strength, stamina, grace, and LOVE.
ok T thanks so much for reminding me that in ten years M will be 18 and B will be 17! Now I am crying.....I have 10yrs left with them!
No problem, Katie! Just doing my part...
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