Little People Grow Up Way Too Fast!

I had one of those dreams filled with such normal stuff that you think it's really happening while you're in the dream. You know what I mean?

When my children were little, we used to go camping a lot. We loved hiking through the woods, eating s'mores around the campfire, fishing from the bank's edge. We even tried mountain biking as they grew older. So in my dream I was working my way up the side of a little mountain trail, wondering where Rachel and Caleb were. I started thinking about the fact that I hadn't seen them for a while—at least not the "little people" version of Rachel and Caleb. Shouts and giggles interrupted my climb as I turned around to see the eight- and twelve-year-old version of my children running toward me. "There you two are! I've been looking everywhere for you. I've missed you! Where've you been?"

That's when reality crashed in on dreamland and I woke up with tears streaming down my face, because I realized I'd never see those two little people again! They no longer existed in that "pint-sized version." The next morning at breakfast I relayed to my teenaged, six-foot-three son the dream (with big mommy-sized tears streaming down my face!) and the fact that I missed those two kids so much. Caleb looked at me incredulously. "But Mom, I'm sitting right here!" He couldn't understand my confusion. My tear-filled reply was soggy. "I know, I know—I'm glad you're here. I just miss that little guy who used to come running to show me the lizard he just caught, and the one that needed me to help him tie his shoes and find his missing frogs. I'm really glad you're here—I just miss that little guy!"

Today's post is for those young moms who've had a really long day of laundry and dirty diapers, one too many spills, and no breaks from the world of "toddlerhood" for weeks!

Tips from an "old mom"

• Pause for a minute. Take a deep breath, and ask God for grace to enjoy this season.
• Ask Him to remind you of the brevity of this season in moments when you're so tired you think you'll collapse.  
• Find creative ways to have fun with your kids today!
• Go give each of your children a hug—right now while they're this size—because tomorrow they'll be a little bigger!
• Tell each of your children something special you've noticed about the way God created them. Then pray with them thanking God for that particular trait.
• Ask your children for forgiveness—often! It will train them to do the same.
• Watch for opportunities during your normal routine today to teach your children something new about God.
• Ask God to remind you (often) to treasure these years.
• When you go to sleep tonight—be sure to thank Him for the gift of these little ones.

Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights (James 1:17).