Sometimes it’s as though life is on fast forward. I’m just trying to relish in all the special moments, while keeping up with my everyday expectations. Although I wouldn’t trade my life for anything, at times, it’s as though I’m just trying to keep up with it. Trying to check off the list of things to do, all the while enjoying all the precious moments with those, I hold nearest and dearest. I’m sure you too my friend, have felt like this from time to time.

Recently my youngest son and I went through all my kids toys that they no longer played with, crafts they outgrew and books they no longer read. My oldest son has long gone since the years of toys. Though I’m fortunate that there are still some toys that my youngest son does enjoy. There were a handful of toys to be kept out. While many of their toys got packed up and put away in our attic. For they wanted to keep those for their future. Then there were a few in which to donate. It was all a bittersweet feeling. One part of me thought more space and it is just a part of growing up. The other part of me though, felt like it was packing away parts of their childhood. In some regards, it was.  I felt a little emotional. I don’t know whom was more sentimental about some of their things though, myself, or them. It was not the materialism of these things. It was the memories etched into them. The old superhero capes they got on superhero day, when my youngest was hospitalized as a toddler. It was the tiny toys that were once part of their adventures. The crafts that were still fun and exciting. It was the old books that they used to ask me to read to them again. It was so many special moments, etched into the simplest of things.

Life goes by so quickly. Though every day is a blessing from God. May we live as He intended, loving well those in which He has blessed us with and appreciating all the precious moments that He has given us. Though my children are growing, I am enjoying all these stages. Though expectations are important, I am holding onto what’s important most. As the shelves look differently with all their stuff having gone through; I smile. I am grateful for all those memories etched into my heart and I am also grateful and looking forward to all these new adventures with my children as they grow. The blessings of these next stages. For though time passes by so quickly, when we take the time to enjoy the blessings of our loved ones; we can still smile. For we know that life is a blessing. Even as time goes by so quickly or changes. If we take the time to relish in it, even as it goes by so fast, time cannot take away the love through it all. May we enjoy this life, these stages and our days. For these are the days that the Lord has given us and may we be grateful and praise Him for it all!

Erin Fitts-Brower

Psalm 118:24 KJV

This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.