Remember, the “can’t waits” add up to years

Now over the past year and some, grandsons #1 & #3 have been attempting to bolster their weight to get to the 40 lb mark – because it’s their goal in life to get out of child car seat and into a booster seat. And whenever I visit or they come over, I’m regaled with stories of what they ate to get to that milestone weight marker, and I’m given the task of taking their weight, and recording it.

The other day, I watched one of those mandatory ads on YouTube of a baby in a mother’s arms transformed into a toddler taking her first steps, to a little girl, to a college graduate, and on to a working young woman…all in the space of a few minutes! I’m not sure what the ad was about, but as I stared at that screen, I realized that it brought to mind so many memories of my three girls, who grew up way too fast! Did I cherish those years or did I take them for granted? In the busyness of life, did I cuddle them enough? Did I spoil them enough? Did I spend enough time with them? Maybe I did, but suddenly, I couldn’t remember the day to day. Instead all the “can’t waits” stood out loud and clear, in my mind. And I was overcome with regret for the number of times I must’ve said, “I can’t wait… till she starts sleeping through the night. I’m so bleary-eyed at work; can’t wait till she starts school and I have more free time; Can’t wait till she starts doing her homework on her own!”

Why had I been in a hurry for them to grow up? Of course, life moved forward. All those “can’t waits” added up to years, and they were gone, seemingly in the blink of an eye!! 😕

Last week, as the little boys got into the child car seats and put on the belts by themselves (they’re already doing that), I was reminded of something Debbie, our middle daughter, said when grandson #3 was a baby and had just started walking. “Mum, don’t you feel sad that you never know when a “last” is? I didn’t know that was the last time he would crawl, and that makes me sad.” And that is the truth, friends! Life is filled with hundreds of “firsts” and “lasts” – and most times we never even realize a “last” until it becomes a precious memory! 💕

You know, grandchildren are our God-given chance at a “do-over”. 🎉 And I’ve certainly come to realize the brevity of life (honestly, where have the years gone???), and hopefully am in the process of gaining a heart of wisdom. So, with my four little boys, I’m always happy to stop and pick up sticks to look for bugs, when we’re out for a walk. Or jump in all the little muddy puddles with them. Or eat doughnuts for breakfast. Or go on long aimless drives, looking for trains. Or watch them climb walls without the 100 instructions that are at the tip of my tongue!! 😄 Or just encourage them to enjoy their child car seats for as long as they need to be in it!

Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may gain a heart of wisdom. Psalm 90:12