P.S. Snips and Whit

I come home from a long hard day at work and for just a moment slip into my lazy chair and close my eyes for a moment’s rest. I know that in just a minute the little voices in the back of the house that are laughing and talking will notice that I am here and will come barreling in and yell, “Daddy’s home.”

Not caring that I am weary and worn from the day’s stress, they will begin their barrage of demands, wants, and questions. They will pull and tug and want me to do everything I’ve ever done with them one more time.

Before they come, I begin to think about how quickly time flies by, how soon things come and go, and how rapidly the pages of life turn. Why, just yesterday, so it seems, we were bringing our little ones home from the hospital just a few hours old. I remember the first little footprints made while still in the delivery room and handed to me for my treasure chest. The first little diapers, first smile, noticing when her eyes began to focus and follow my face as I moved about. Then it was the first lifting of the head, the first roll-over, squeezing of my fingers, the first crawl, the first step.

Then came the first word which, of course, was “Da Da”. The first birthday party, cozy coupe car, the 1,000-piece, five-man job assembling the first swing set. Oh, it goes on and on. Yet as I sit, resting in my chair, I realize that time does not stand still. Soon the little running feet will not be headed for me but perhaps to the phone to talk with a friend or to the door to go out on a date.

The change will go from “Daddy help me wash” to “I can dry myself.” The words “Help me” will soon be replaced with “I can do it.” The lively sounds of: “Daddy come here, Daddy do this, read this book, help me with this puzzle, ride me on your neck again, swing me just once more, scratch my back, wipe my nose, color with me, give me a drink, chase me, take me to the store with you, watch this, help me find my cup, Will you sleep by us tonight? All the way to “Daddy you’re the bestest there is,” can feel a bit overwhelming at times. But just when I wish for peace and quiet I realize in a few days those little voices, little hands and feet will be carried away to their own journey of life.

The ever-present questioning will be replaced by an occasional call; the hallways will have quietened down, and the toys left no longer to be played with. The swing only moved by the gentle breeze pushing the empty seat. No more night-night hugs or early-morning kisses. The little girl replaced by a young woman. No more hide and seek. No more spinning while holding her in the air. This time will all too quickly pass, replaced with memories. So as I sit here and rest, I know when they come bounding into the room before they even ask, I know that whatever it is, I will do it one more time.

The previous paragraphs were printed in the Apostolic Witness in June 2002 as an article I entitled “One More Time” Now as I sit in my chair 20 years later; the hallways have indeed quieted down. The questions are fewer though more in-depth and the voices that called from another room in the house now come from another city several miles away. As I reminisce about those times, there is not one song sung, family prayer prayed, game played, school drama watched or youth event attended that I would undo. The years were not perfect and some days harder than others, but they were real and lived to the fullest; packed full of wonderful childhood delight . Precious moments that can not be taken away or erased with time.

God has been gracious to us as a family. We have now seen the little girls grow from babies and toddlers to teens and now young married women. Are there regrets? sure, disappointments? a few, but life is made up of wins and losses, ups and downs. Some days are a blur from the busy seasons and times we wondered if we would get through the parenting days. Yet day by day things changed and they became more independent; eventually, we noticed both child and parent had learned and developed new wisdom. Each day, whether quickly or slowly, we worked ourselves out of a job, and raising children came full circle, as I walked the last daughter down the aisle and placed her hand in the hand of her new protector and provider. We will always be Mom and Dad but in a different capacity.

While currently living in the ‘empty nest’ years foretold in the article, we are experiencing a new level of parenting on a ‘grander’ scale. With Lucy, our first grandchild, Boston’s soon appearance, and the arrival of others to come, we are beginning to see the circle of life unfold in our daughters’ lives as they begin their parenting journey. We pray the unconditional love and godly heritage they have been given will be the root and foundation upon which they build their families.

There will be games to play, questions to answer, and a myriad of activities the grands will want Poppy and Honey’s assistance with. We have already settled in our minds, before they even ask, whatever it is, we will do it one more time.