For everything there is a season,
a time for every activity under heaven.
A time to be born and a time to die.
A time to plant and a time to harvest.
A time to kill and a time to heal.
A time to tear down and a time to build up.
A time to cry and a time to laugh.
A time to grieve and a time to dance.
A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones.
A time to embrace and a time to turn away.
A time to search and a time to quit searching.
A time to keep and a time to throw away.
A time to tear and a time to mend.
A time to be quiet and a time to speak.
A time to love and a time to hate.
A time for war and a time for peace. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
Lately I’ve been spending time with my daughter who just had a baby. Anyone remember the chaos a newborn brings to a household? Add to that the antics of a three year old who is trying to adjust to this new version of family, things can get pretty hectic. On top of this, a project at work needed attention so I was seriously juggling.
You know how it goes. Trying to make sure the new baby is doing well, making sure my daughter is doing things like eating enough and drinking enough water. Paying attention to my grandson so he settles into the new “normal.” Keeping the house picked up, cooking meals and running errands …. and oh, i have a telephone meeting in 10 minutes.
One day as we “handled” everything; we were walking out the door for a toddler Family Valentine’s Day Party (I forgot how hard it is to get two kids ready on time), I was feeling pretty good about the morning’s accomplishments. I looked down as we walked out of the room and saw the evidence in the potty chair that the three year old’s potty training was working. Geesh! How did I miss that?
This made me laugh. It seems like no matter how you think you have it together, you probably don’t. Especially if you are a caregiver. It doesn’t matter if you are taking care of a newborn, a toddler, a sick relative, an elderly parent or _____________ (you fill in the blank.) Things go wrong or you just can’t get it all done.
That’s when I decided to take some Biblical advice. There is a time for every activity under the heaven. A time to work, a time to rest, a time to love. In these very hectic last two weeks, I decided to cherish the moments. Moments of sitting and talking with my daughter. Moments of laying on the floor and pretending I was a runway as my grandson piled airplanes, cars and boats on my stomach. Moments of staring into the face of a newborn baby sleeping peacefully in my arms.
The other chaotic stuff comes and goes. But the memories we share with people will last forever.