Don't Blink

I heard the splashing but wasn’t sure what was going on.  I had put Tori in the bath tub and was making us lunch, but the splashing was getting louder.  As I was making my way to the bathroom, I could hear my 4 year old saying something, I just wasn’t sure what it was.  When I entered the bathroom I saw about 20 naked Barbies lined up along the rim of the tub.  I watched as Tori was grabbing each one and dunking them under the water.

“What are you doing Pudd?”  

“Baptizing Barbie for the remission of sins!”

I couldn’t help but laugh.

The fall sky was so blue.  The lake was cold but wonderfully reflected the beauty of the sky.  The bread was almost gone but the ducks seemed to be still hungry.  Tucker, my 5 year old son at the time, was having a blast seeing how far he could make a duck swim for a piece of bread.  Then came the noise.  HONK!  HONK!  HONK!  A quick glance above and there were the geese.  It was time for their annual migration south, much like the senior saints from church.  I glanced over at Tucker to see what his reaction might be to the noise and beautiful V pattern of the guess.  Their unison wing flapping as they moved almost effortlessly across the fall sky.  

“What do you think about that Tuck-man?”

“Pretty cool.  Do they know any other letters?”

FAST forward…..

That seemed like yesterday.  Both events.  Although they were a few years apart themselves and more than 15 years or so ago.  In between?  Dance recitals, football games, tee ball, vacations, church camp, cheerleading, basketball, first boyfriend, first girlfriend, dances, Homecoming, Prom, science fair projects, A Series of Unfortunate Events, Captain Underpants, VBS, tears, laughter, “the Talk”, boo boos, Honey Boo Boo, movies, Reds Games, road trips, picnics, Lupus, Titus, life, death, hugs, kisses…….a blur!!

Today, I have a son in law and a college student.  Gone are the Barbies and the duck feedings.  Gone are the diaper changes, shoe tying, cutting up meat, rocking to sleep, wiping noses, tap shoes and cleats.  Where did the time go?  It marches on.  We all have 7 days in a week.  24 hours in a day.  We can’t stop the clock from ticking.  There are no time outs in life to delay the game.  The clock never stops.  

Don’t blink.  Enjoy every hour of every day.  It is a gift from God.  Time?  It moves on.  What is a half second?  Ask the silver medalist in the 100 yard dash.  What’s a minute?  Ask the guy who missed the plane.  What’s an hour?  Ask the parent waiting for a child to come home from a date.  What is a month?  Ask me and my wife, who only had a month with our son Titus.  

Don't blink!  But have fun!  Don't be a fuddy duddy.  Too often we take life way to seriously! It’s OK to have fun. Life has enough struggles along the way, don’t make it worse by forgetting what matters. Laugh, smile, giggle, be goofy once in a while. It won’t kill you and it might just be contagious!

Don’t blink.  Treasure your time.  Share it with others.  Don’t be selfish.  You blink, and they are gone.  Not forever, they are coming back and bringing more with them!  I can’t wait for grand babies!  And you can bet with them, I won’t blink.

God bless you!