Mrs Lacey MacRae
Youth Pastor's Wife
Shenandoah Bible Baptist Church
Martinsburg, WV
Several months ago I came across one of those "Let's-Make-All-Moms-Everywhere-Bawl-Their-Eyes-Out-Uncontrollably-Because-Their-Babies-Are-Growing-Up" songs. I think we all have a love/hate relationship with those. We love how they are so realistic and relatable, but we hate them for reminding us that our babies are growing so quickly and seemingly running towards the day they'll leave our homes. This particular one is literally the best/worst one I've ever heard...depending on how you measure that kind of thing. Like it's the best because it's the sweetest and most realistic one ever written, and yet it's the worst because it makes me cry harder than seems humanly possible...or reasonable.
Anyway...a friend of mine (if she can even be called that after making me susceptible to such agony🙄😉) posted that song the other day, and at first I didn't realize what it was, so I started to listen to it...but not for long! Once I recognized it, I was in a panic until I could get it turned off! 😩😂 However, some of the effects of the song were still felt throughout the rest of my day. For instance:
-When I picked my girls up from school that day, I hugged them just a little longer; I purposely looked in their eyes while they both tried to tell me about their day at the same time; I smiled at them in spite of the one million things that were on my mind from work and just life in general.
-When my girls were sitting squished together in the recliner watching Andy Griffith that night after dinner, I took a minute right in the middle of my busy rounds of laundry, dishes, packing lunches, etc. etc. to stop and watch their faces and listen to them giggle at Barney "bein' silly", as Lindsey said.
-When it was almost time to go to bed, and I was definitely "shutting down" for the night, mentally and physically, instead of just hurrying them off to bed a few minutes early, I grabbed a board game and played a couple of rousing games of Hi-Ho Cherry-O!
-Lastly, when at 2:20 in the morning I awoke to the sounds of blood-curdling screams coming from my girls' room, (after Jason and I finally woke up enough to realize it was, in fact, our girls screaming and not wild banshees) instead of feeling annoyed at being aroused from my peaceful slumber, and instead of thinking about how tired I would be while teaching today, etc. etc., I just held Lindsey, who was still shaking, while she told me about her bad dream about the big bug that "almost got on her heeeaaddd!" And after both girls were safely in bed with us, I just smiled every time Lindsey reached over and rubbed my back to make sure I was still there...even though she kept doing it *just* as I was finally dozing off to sleep.
I know they're only 6 and 5 still, and I'm sure I'm being ridiculously dramatic...but just yesterday they were 4 and 3! And now, quite suddenly, Mackenzie is reading and spelling her Spelling words to me and losing teeth!!! And Lindsey no longer says "sildy" instead of "silly" or puts her shoes on the wrong feet *every single time* or wants my help with...well, just about anything. This is just all happening so fast!
Sometimes I desperately want them to slow down and stay little for me. I know that's impossible, but I was reminded that while my girls can't and shouldn't slow down in their growth and learning and maturing, I, on the other hand, CAN and SHOULD slow down each and every day and enjoy everything about them. They are such precious gifts, and gifts are to be enjoyed...over and over again.
I was reminded of Matthew 19:26 and Luke 20:17 where right before Jesus said the perfect thing thing, responded in the perfect way, and discerned the situation perfectly, the Bible says He “beheld them, which means to “look upon, to observe fixedly, to discern clearly.” Jesus seemed to always be “in the moment.” Regardless of what was going on around Him, He was always present with that one that needed Him. I don’t think Jesus missed out on anything He was supposed to do or anyone He was supposed to help. I know that’s mainly because of the whole “being God” thing, but I just find it so interesting that in both verses I referenced above, it is noted that before He discerned the situation and gave them the answer He did, He “beheld them.” I just wonder how much better we would be at loving those around us and “being there” for them if we were to take the time to “behold them”...for me, and probably for all of us, that starts at home.
P.S. Lest it sound like I am describing myself as a wonderful parent...I was literally describing one evening out of many that I fail to slow down. This article is really a reminder to me to slow down even on the days that a sappy song doesn't remind me to. 😔💕
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