With two children in college and one on the fringe of graduation with a serious girlfriend, I have learned all too well how short life really is. From the day I got married until even now, I have realized somewhat the brevity of life on the earth. I can remember on my wedding day thinking, “I need to remember this moment." Then, when my husband and I became parents, I remember putting my nose in my babies’ necks when they were newly born, just wanting never to forget what they smelled like.
By the grace of God, for the most part, I have been purposeful in my attempt to enjoy life and remember as many of the special moments as possible. I do not know where this came from, but somebody at some point must have instilled this awareness in me. Regardless, much of life has slipped away like a vapor. It has disappeared before my very eyes and there is no way to get it back.
There have been times of joy and times of pain; mostly times of joy! There are times I regret and would like to re-do, and times I just wish I could revisit just because they were so good.
As parents, we must be deliberate.We have got to take time to smell those little necks. It sounds cliché, but we really cannot brood over spilled milk or crumbs under the table.I can assure you, when the children are in college, you will long for sticky spots on the floor or stains on your shirt. Everything is put into perspective once it no longer exists.
When I was a young mother, I was fretting over my son’s need to come and get in the bed with us in the middle of the night. I called my mother in despair one day. She had raised 5 children and at the time had 13 grandchildren. I explained my “huge dilemma” to my mother and she quickly replied, “Lisa, it is going to be alright. You know, when my children were little, they did the same thing, but surprisingly, not one of them sleeps with me today.
Wow, what a perspective setter that comment was! This was her way of letting me know that life is short and the things that we often focus on so heavily are not going to last for very long. If there was one thing I could do, it would be to go back in time and do it all over again, but since I cannot do that, I am determined to enjoy every minute of each day that I am blessed with currently.
Children are a gift from God, and we often underestimate the impact we have upon their lives. We have got to be deliberate in our actions toward them, realizing that our influence as a parent is unlike any other. When we fail, we must acknowledge our mistakes with humility; it is NEVER too late to change!
Children are very resilient and very forgiving, as well as being the most valuable investment opportunity that you could ever have. What you pour into your child is sure to multiply over and over again in many generations to come! That is why we have got to guard our actions and realize the greatness of our love effect, whether it be abundantly overflowing or lacking in expression.
If your children are at still at home, take time to tell them you love them and if necessary make some readjustments. Learn to put things into perspective and just enjoy life with all of it smells!
My boys are 19 and 22 and while I no longer cradle them in my arms, I wrap my arms around them all of the time, because I have lived just long enough to know that one day I will look back on this season and want this time back as well, so I’m going to enjoy it while it lasts. And you know what? I still smell their necks.
Awww, this post made me tear up. And it make me want to go tell my 7 year old he could get in my bed. LOL He's old enough now that it drives him crazy when I smell his neck.
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