The Years Tell Us Much…..

If you are like me, the holiday season offers moments of reflection into the Christmas seasons of the past. Many years ago, when our children consisted of our three boys, I watched from the kitchen as they assembled our Christmas tree and I thought to myself, “That tree looks so much smaller; I wonder if it is all there.” Then I realized the tree was the same, but it was the boys who were taller and now able to reach the top without a chair. As our three beautiful girls entered our lives, Christmas memories included dolls, red velour dresses and the twinkle of Christmas lights sparkling in beautiful, almond shaped brown eyes. As children grew and there were many legs under the Christmas dinner table, the years went by and soon there was an empty chair or two as beloved grandparents had departed into eternity. Now the toddlers and little ones around the table are my own grandchildren, with the oldest home for college Christmas break. At times it is a stunning revelation that life has accelerated at this speed. We had an evening of such a revelation shortly before one of my daughters left for a new chapter of her life. Fortunately, there is still a VCR in the house and we watched videos of some of our visits to see family in Colorado when we still lived in Nebraska. Michelle was about 2 in one of them, and her brothers were around 7,10 and 12. I am so thankful for the technology to actually see again into that moment of time. Another video had Ashley added, learning to crawl, walk around furniture and going after one of her brothers to bite them as they teased and played. Vera had not joined our family yet during this time . Scott’s parents were in both of these films, Lowell and Irma Sullivan. As I laughed and cried watching the past, I realized that at the time these were filmed, Scott’s father was the age that Scott is now. I am only 2 years behind. Everyday since that revelation, I have reflected on how quickly our life with our children passes by, and how I wish I had soaked in more of the joy of the moments then. It seemed like there was always something pressing to be done, so hurry up here to dash somewhere else. But no. Nothing is more important than the relationship moment you are in now, whether a parent, a grandparent, a friend, a child. I learned that the hard way in December of 2013 when one day the chances were slim I would survive pulmonary embolisms. Nothing was on my mind that day but my family. Did they know how much I loved them? God,please give me more time! Graciously, I have been given 13 more months and hopefully more. A Ralph Waldo Emerson quote hangs above my piano. “The years tell us much that the days never knew.” Wherever you are in life right now, embrace this truth. It is something you will never regret.