Just Another Step

At times I feel like a broken record on my blog, repeatedly bringing attention to the fact that my "little" boys are growing up. It's just that it's not a change here and a change there and then we're done. It's a continual, ongoing series of events. Each day seems filled with a milestone, ending, or beginning of some sort. And being the nostalgic sap that I am, I can't simply overlook them. I try to treasure each little step along the way...to tuck it away in my heart for future pondering. As I've said before, I know these changes are good and right. Sometimes it just takes a little time to adjust and accept...

Today is yet another of those bittersweet milestones. Our oldest son is part of the Bible Quizzing team at our church, and this weekend marks their first meet of the year. Our son will be traveling with his team and their coaches to a meet 4 hours away. Tomorrow they'll be competing against other churches, bringing to memory the material they've been studying and memorizing from Galatians. Throughout the year, the material will expand to include Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon.

The past month has been a good experience for our son as he learns how to study and memorize God's Word and hide it in his heart. He's learned how he studies best...and what happens when he doesn't study. He's taken ownership and responsibility for learning the material, and my heart has soared.

As you likely know, I'm pretty sentimental about life. At least two of our boys have that same "bent." This morning, however, one of them called me into his room where he'd made a large pile of stuff, including stuffed animals and blankies. He simply stated, "We can get rid of this now." While a part of me wanted to burst out with a loud, "Finally!"...I restrained myself. And as I bagged up his once-treasured belongings, I said farewell to yet another stage.

Yesterday I purchased new sheets for our youngest son's bed. His old sheets were thread-bare and completely shot. I gleefully removed them from his upper bunk, threw them in the trash, and replaced them with the new sheets which were made of the same material...his favorite jersey-knit. While he was delighted with the new sheets, he discovered his old sheets in the trash and came to me in tears, begging to keep them.

While I explained to him that they were no longer good for anything, he tried to convince me that they wouldn't take up much room in his memory box. I finally consented, and after my husband had tucked him in bed, I went to kiss him goodnight. He wrapped his little arms around my neck and thanked me for letting him keep his old sheets. And my heart melted and empathized as he spoke these words: "I'm a stick-to-the-original kind of guy. I don't like change." As I hugged him close and inhaled the sweetness of his skin, my heart whispered, "Neither do I, Buddy. Neither do I..."