Skip to main content

Stop Wasting Precious Time



We talk often about how fast the time flies by. When raising children, time seems to move at lightning speed. As I pondered my oldest daughter today, for some reason I had a "flash forward" moment in which I was envisioning her all grown up and getting married. My stomach turned and my heart squeezed at the thought of it, and I am thankful that it was just a passing thought and not my reality yet. But it did get me thinking...

My daughter wearing my Wedding veil recently :) 

My daughter is five and a half years old. If she were to marry at twenty (like I did) or even just move out and start her own life at that point, then we are one quarter of the way there. How much time have I wasted? If I have twenty years (maybe a little more, maybe a little less) to raise this girl of mine - I am actually a good chunk of the way into it already. How much time have I wasted? 

How many play dolls with me moments have I been too busy for?
How many mommy, watch me poses have I simply ignored?
How many boo-boos have I "you're okay"ed and failed to kiss?
How many deep heartfelt questions have I missed in my busyness?
How many "stop it" commands have spewed out of my lips?
How many hurry ups have filled our shopping trips?
How many one more story's have I squashed with "not tonight"?
How many silly matters have I turned into a fight?
How many joyful laughters have I shushed out of worldly pressure? 
How many I love you, Mommy's have I forgotten to treasure?



We are in a race against this ticking clock of childhood - never knowing when it might be the last bedtime story, tuck-in or tickle fight. The last "Mommy". The last kiss in public. Our children are growing and changing right in front of our sometimes oblivious eyes. May we notice more, play more, listen more and enjoy it more. May we stop being so "busy". I don't want to waste the next 15 years. I want to be able to look back without regret - there will be mistakes and sinful moments and lots and lots of grace - but mostly, I hope that there will be pillow fights, and flour covered counter tops, and forts taking over the living room and endless stories being told. I want there to be laughter and love. 
I want to stop wasting time. 

How about you?

Comments

  1. RitaSeptember 11, 2013 at 5:48 AM

    This is a great reminder! Your blog comes at the right time. And now I'm going to bake cupcakes with my son.

    ReplyDelete
  2. SarahSeptember 24, 2013 at 7:59 AM

    Thank you for this Emily! I cried as I read this because this has been my life far too much lately! And no matter how much I try to change it, I just can't seem to get my priorities in line! So a little prayer for me! ;)

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

I really appreciate your comment! I read every one and try to reply in a timely fashion. Have a blessed day :)

Popular posts from this blog

The Day I Failed At Motherhood

It was a Monday morning. The weekend had been filled with busyness, it felt as though we had not even had one moment to catch our breath and the week was upon us once again. I awoke to a house that was disheveled by the hustle and bustle of running in and out from one engagement to the next. Okay , I thought, I am going to whip this house into shape ! I am one of those people who simply cannot relax or enjoy my day if my house is in disarray (thanks, Mom!). I fed the kiddos breakfast and immediately got to work. I enlisted the help of the children. I was working on the dishes and kitchen clean-up and I asked my almost four year old and my five year old to pick up all the toys in the living room and vacuum. My five year old daughter LOVES to vacuum - and it works as a great incentive to get things picked up off the floor. After a few minutes I heard her turn the vacuum on, and I continued on my busy way finishing up the kitchen. A short while later, after the hum of the vacuum
28 comments
Read more

God Changed My Mind About Modesty

I was recently sitting in a mall food court with my fifteen month old daughter, as my husband waited in line for the carousel with our older two. As the ride came to a stop, there was a group of young girls riding on horses directly in front of me. I noticed that the one little girl (who was maybe 8 or 9) was wearing very short shorts - as in you could not even tell she was wearing anything when she was sitting on the horse. To make matters worse, when she raised herself up off the horse, her entire bottom was exposed! I cringed and felt sick to my stomach as I peered around at the hundreds of people in the busy mall food court who may have just witnessed it as well. The little girl adjusted her shorts and went on her way, but I couldn't shake the sick feeling I had - the thought that someone in the mall could have enjoyed seeing that little girl like that... I know that "wardrobe malfunctions" may happen sometimes. Even when dressed modestly, the wind can blow up a
37 comments
Read more

3 Tips for the Newlywed Wife

Today I am celebrating 8 years of marriage to my husband... {Our Wedding Day ~ May 7th, 2005} I am certainly NOT a marriage expert, and still make many mistakes (just ask my husband!). We have seen ups and downs in these eight years - financial hardships, unemployment, lots of closed doors...but God has been faithful and I am truly blessed with a wonderful marriage. I have {sorta} figured a few things out...especially from those newlywed days. The first few months of my marriage were a challenge and a huge adjustment. So, I have a few words of advice for newlywed wives, from a {slightly} more experienced wife: It is okay to mourn your former life.  My husband and I had been married for about a week, we were not taking a honeymoon for a few weeks until my husband finished school that year, so life had just continued on as "normal" after our wedding. Except...it wasn't normal. A week before I had been an unmarried 20 year old girl living with my parents, s
21 comments
Read more