Rick and I used to joke whenever we’d sing the hymn Blessed Quietness, saying, “hey, what is that?!” Quietness was not something you often experienced in our home. I remember times when the noise was so overpowering that I’d call a quiet time. That meant everyone had to sit quietly, read or play a quiet game for a specified period of time just to give mom a time to collect her thoughts. It wasn’t always chaos but when you have 16 people living in the same house, it’s just not quiet. It’s busy. It’s active. There’s always something going on.
Well, things have changed now. I only have 2 kids living at home. Those 2 kids have jobs and interests and commitments and more often than not, my house is REALLY quiet. I’ve had a couple of occasions lately when a friend has stopped by and comments, “Wow, it just seems weird that your house is so quiet now.” It is weird ,and I’m not sure I like it. It has it’s advantages sometimes,(it’s easier to concentrate when I write for instance)  but I LOVED experiencing life with my growing kiddos. I am proud of every one of them for the people they’ve turned out to be, but I do miss being mommy to little people.
I’m reminded of a song that our dear friend Doug Oldham used to sing- “We Have This Moment”. The words went like this:
We have this moment to hold in our hands,
To touch as it slips through our fingers like sand.
Yesterday’s gone and tomorrow may never come,
But we have this moment today.
I’m processing through this change, and I’ll probably write more about it later, but my purpose in writing this today is to encourage you mommies who are right in the middle of chaos and feeling like you don’t have a spare minute to yourself (even when you’re in the bathroom, they seem to know and are banging on the door) that life is fleeting. That 4 year old will soon be 16, getting their driver’s license and life will change for you. Life if full of changes, but a child grows so quickly. Just 5 years makes a HUGE difference. Enjoy your child when they are little!! There will be time for other things later, but you’ll never get back those year when your house is bursting with little people who are looking to you for everything it seems.
Embrace it!
Experience the joy of life with your little ones. Hold fast to snuggling times, read to them often, stop what you’re doing often and look at their face, express delight in what they are excited about.
Don’t wish for tomorrow, but make memories of what was today.
Here’s the lyrics to the song I mentioned before. It’s a song by Bill and Gloria Gaither. Read and ponder.
Hold tight to the sound of the music of living,
Happy songs from the laughter of children at play;
Hold my hand as we run through the sweet fragrant meadows,
Making mem’ries of what was today.
Chorus: We have this moment to hold in our hands
and to touch as it slips through our fingers like sand;
Yesterday’s gone and tomorrow may never come,
But we have this moment today.
Tiny voice that I hear is my little girl calling,
For Daddy to hear just what she has to say;
And my little son running there by the hillside,
May never be quite like today.
Tender words, gentle touch and a good cup of coffee,
And someone that loves me and wants me to stay;
Hold them near while they’re here and don’t wait for tomorrow,
To look back and wish for today.
Take the blue of the sky and the green of the forest,
And the gold and the brown of the freshly mown hay;
Add the pale shades of spring and the circus of autumn,
And weave you a lovely today.
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What a lovely family. I have always enjoyed reading about your growing family through the years. God Bless you and yours.
Marilyn
Thanks, Marilyn.
Thank You for sharing your precious photos of your family. Beautiful family.
Marion
You are welcome Marion.