As young parents we hold our sweet, precious newborn and think “One day they will be grown up, but not today.”  Well, today IS that day for me. Today my first little baby is 18 years old.

I remember how it felt to hold her for the first time.  I remember all the sleepless nights and how I wished I could get just one night without interruption.  I remember thinking how great it would be when she could take care of herself long enough to take a shower.  I remember thinking I couldn’t wait to be able to have “more freedom” when they were teenagers and could stay home while I went to the store…alone…in peace and quiet.

And now?  I’d give anything to hold her all night because she won’t sleep in the crib alone.  I would be happy to go a day without a shower because she wants to play and read books.  And, I wish I could pick her up and put her in her favorite swing to distract her from things that might hurt her.  If I could keep all the bad in the world away from her heart and protect her forever…I would do it in a minute.

Somehow when I acknowledged that God gave her to me for only a little while, I thought the time would be longer than it turned out to be.  My heart is overwhelmed with emotions of sadness at the childhood that has to end, yet happy for the future I know He has for her.

Best parenting advice I can ever give: take every minute you have.  Study their smile, their hair, their eyes; listen to them babble on and on; laugh at every silly thing they do and say; hold them as long as they will allow.  Pray for them like their life depends on it, because it does. NEVER cut your time with them short because you are “too busy”.  One day they will be grown…and one day will come entirely  too soon.

The Lord bless you and keep you;

The Lord make His face shine upon you,

And be gracious to you;

The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,

And give you peace.

-Numbers 6:24-26