A Time for Every Season

In anticipation of Mother's Day, I'm re-running some of my previous motherhood-related posts. I originally wrote this entry on May 8, 2007. Now, nearly 3 years later, the list of changes and new things continues to grow by leaps and bounds. But more than ever, I'm learning to savor and rejoice in each new season of motherhood, for even when the seasons change, my heavenly Father does not. With unchanging love, grace, and faithfulness, He's working on the heart of this mama...

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It’s May, and I generally get rather nostalgic at this time of year. A certain wistfulness comes over me as we chalk off the completion of another school year. We’re one more year closer to our babes leaving the nest. This year seems particularly poignant, as my "baby," my firstborn, will soon enter Jr. High. Where has the time gone?

Yesterday I was cuddling my babies and inhaling the sweet scent of their skin. I was waking for middle-of-the-night feedings, changing diapers, and dressing my little men in adorable new outfits. I rocked them and whispered in their ears, "Jesus loves you...Daddy loves you...Mommy loves you...Grandma loves you...Grandpa loves you..." I delighted in giving them their first tastes of new foods. I lovingly braced their heads as we danced around the livingroom to Amy Grant’s "Baby, Baby." The diaper bag felt permanently affixed to my shoulder, and the contortions I made to strap our little guys in carseats seemed neverending. We cuddled as we read "Runaway Bunny," "Goodnight Moon," and "The Going to Bed Book." Voices called out for mommy in the middle of the night, and I comforted them. I sang them "Jesus Loves Me" and watched a gazillion Veggie Tales videos. I imagined life would always be this way. Well-meaning grandmas and seasoned parents admonished me, "Enjoy these days. They go so fast."

Today I'm not necessarily inhaling the sweet scent of our boys’ skin. In fact, many times I'm reminding them that it's time to take another shower. I pick their clothes out only on Sundays. I'm still subjecting them to lots of new flavors and recipes and, just as when they were babies, they still make their preferences known. We still dance around the livingroom to fun, upbeat songs. These days I carry a purse again, and each of our boys strap themselves in and out of their seatbelts without any assistance from me. They gather ‘round me as we delve into our latest adventure story. It's rare that any of them need reassurance from Mom or Dad in the middle of the night. I still sing them songs. I have a whole repertoire of "morning" songs that I wake them with each morning, and a handful of "goodnight" songs I sing them each night. Despite their mother's inability to carry a tune in a bucket, our boys graciously humor me and smile sweetly.

Today I wonder in amazement as these boys of ours learn...line upon line...to responsibly carry out their tasks. I watch them head out on their paper route each day, always calling before they walk out the door, "Be careful!" I listen as they interact with their friends and excitedly talk about their interests. I cheer as they compete in sports and learn how to be both a winner and a loser. I sometimes walk past their bedroom doors and, through the crack, see them laying on their beds reading their Bibles. And sometimes, I’m convicted, as I see our boys doing what I’ve not yet done.

Oh, just as I thank God for the blessing of living in a region that experiences all four seasons, I thank Him, likewise, for the changing seasons of parenting. For, as much as I loved the season of babies and toddlerhood and preschool, I’m finding that the next season is beautiful and joyful, as well. For now I get to watch these tender little plants develop upward and outward growth, evidence of a root system that goes down deep.