I recently saw this post on a parenting page and thought it was very poignant. It seems that once we parents get in a groove, our kids have found a new favorite food, a new routine or reach a new development milestone.
But wait, I'm not ready! It's all happening so quick.
Loving these little people sometimes means that I must let them grow even when I'm finding it hard to accept the new normal. Some days I am definitely ready for a new phase but there are many days I want to freeze them forever and hold tightly to the present.
I've always been comforted by the thought that Christ goes before us in everything and lives in the future (and past), just as much as in the present. God transcends time. That truth allows me to step into the next phase of parenting knowing that Christ meets me there and nothing is a surprise to him. We are gently held by our Provider and Sustainer...in all things.
Does this post below resonate with you? Where does the temporary feel hard (and sometimes unending) and where do you find that you are relived that "this too shall pass"? Where are you feeling the joy of moving through stages and experiencing your children's growth?
Philippians 1:6
“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ”
Everything - the Hard and Amazing - is Temporary
Ever notice how everything in parenting, from the amazing to the challenging, seems to be temporary? One moment, your little one is a cuddly bundle content with just milk and sleep, and the next, they're a curious explorer on a mission to touch, taste, and topple everything in sight! Then, before we know it, they’re off to school making new friends and learning new things. Everything... is temporary.
And while this can tug at our heartstrings, there's beauty in this transience. The sleepless nights? Temporary. The overwhelming firsts? Temporary. The diaper changes? Temporary (Thank goodness!). But let's not forget - the tiny hand holding yours, the sweet baby coos, the innocent wonder in their eyes - that too, is all temporary.
So, let's enjoy every moment, embrace every phase, and remember that each stage, however fleeting, is an essential chapter in our incredible journey of parenthood. Embrace the temporariness! After all, it’s what makes every moment precious and every memory priceless.