Respite HouseA place of respite, laughs and encouragement for pastors' wives.

(Note: I am unashamedly stealing this blog from my husband’s blog…it was that good and something we’ve been thinking about a LOT.)

“As a parent, one of the things we often do is mark the “firsts” with our children – the first word, step, day of school, etc.  For those, we can often anticipate and prepare ourselves.  What’s harder are the “lasts” – the last push on the swing, bedtime story, ride on the shoulders.  Not just harder in the sense that they creep up on you and catch you unawares but in the powerful force of reminiscing (and regret) that can come upon you.  Which, of course, should impress upon us the need to live each moment fully with our children.  Seize the day, each day.

I had one of those “lasts” sneak up on me just recently.  Due to the torrential rains this past weekend, our son’s soccer game was cancelled.  There will be no makeup.  This was the last game of his last season of playing on a youth recreation level team.  And, for all I know, the last time he will don a uniform, head out on the field on a Saturday, and join his fellow defenders in choking the other team’s offensive thrusts down the field.  All of which means that the last time I was out there in the stands may well be the last time I have the privilege of seeing him play.  But I didn’t know that then. 

And there will be no makeup.  Seize the day, each day.”