Keep Calm and Slow Down

My oldest turns 25 this week…and right on cue, google and apple photos start showing me “past memories” albums. I find that the pictures on my phone are my greatest distraction. It is a marvel at how our lives really are like a mist (James 4:14).

When I look through old pictures, I remember what I was thinking at the time and I always inevitably say, “what in the world was I thinking?!”.

Life just felt so absolute…so real…so solid. But life was not.

I remember thinking some of those days would never end. But they did.

I remember thinking my kids would be in a certain stage forever. But they were not.

I remember thinking their mistakes and sins were monumental and would mess them (and me) up forever. But they did not.

Everything felt so big, permanent, absolute. But not much was.

Many homeschoolers point to Deuteronomy 11:19 as a verse that shows that we have to spend our days with our kids in order to teach them God’s ways. And although I agree with that, my soul hears the cadence of this verse in a slow rhythm. I envision a slower rhythm of life as I read with my kids. I envision slower and gentler conversations as I talk with my kids.

What I wouldn’t give to have had the wisdom to just slow down! To just chill out and calm down a little bit!

My grown children are all walking faithfully with the Lord and I thank God for this every day. But I still wish I had spent more time on the things that will never fade (Matt. 24:35).

All those things that seem so big to you right now? They aren’t. The years will pass and they will just be a blip on the screen of your life.