Everytime I read this it brings tears to my eyes. I have always tried to encourage moms who are in the thick of things with little ones that this too shall pass and truly in the blink of an eye. But this poem states it so well, such a perfect reminder to truly embrace each season, each moment. I know some days feel overwhelming. I know some days it seems impossible to hang on one more moment in the midst of the trials and turmoil that little ones can bring. But in the midst of the trying times, we must have something to hold onto, something to help us keep perspective that our children are little for such a short time and that one day we will miss this. We will long for just a moment of it back. One day there will be silence and no more messes and we will wish to turn the clock back, but we won't be able to. So if you find yourself in the midst of the turmoil, overwhelmed, take a moment to think on this and remember, that this too shall pass.
I remember when my children were young all my "God stories" started with, I was in the shower and... the shower was my prayer closet. It is where I took very quick showers, but spent that time not only letting the water wash over me, but letting His Spirit wash over me. It is where I sang to the Lord, where I cried out to Him to sustain me, to strengthen me, to give me wisdom, or whatever my need was that day. It was a very precious and coveted time. I pray you will look to the Lord to sustain you and provide whatever it is you need today.
I remember when my children were young all my "God stories" started with, I was in the shower and... the shower was my prayer closet. It is where I took very quick showers, but spent that time not only letting the water wash over me, but letting His Spirit wash over me. It is where I sang to the Lord, where I cried out to Him to sustain me, to strengthen me, to give me wisdom, or whatever my need was that day. It was a very precious and coveted time. I pray you will look to the Lord to sustain you and provide whatever it is you need today.
And I hope that you will find that this poem is a great reminder to make the most of each day because there will always be, a last time.
THE LAST TIME
~Author Unknown
From the moment you hold your baby in your arms you will never be the same
You might long for the person you were before
When you had freedom and time
And nothing in particular to worry about
You will know tiredness like you never knew it before
Days will run into days that are exactly the same
Full of feedings and burping
Nappy changes and crying
Whining and fighting
Naps or a lack of naps
It might seem like a never-ending cycle
But don’t forget…
There is a last time for everything
There will come a time when you will feed your baby for the very last time
They will fall asleep on you after a long day
And it will be the last time you ever hold your sleeping child
One day you will carry them on your hip then set them down
And never pick them up that way again
You will scrub their hair in the bath for one last time
And from that day on they will want to bathe alone
They will hold your hand to cross the road
Then will never reach for it again
They will creep into your room at midnight for cuddles
And it will be the last night you ever wake to this
One afternoon you will sing “the wheels on the bus” and do all the actions
Then never sing them that song again
They will kiss you goodbye at the school gate
The next day they will ask to walk to the gate alone
You will read a final bedtime story and wipe your last dirty face
They will run to you with arms raised for the very last time.
The thing is, you won’t even know it’s the last time
Until there are no more times. And even then, it will take you a while to realise.
So while you are living in these times, remember there are only so many of them and when they are gone, you will yearn for just one more day of them.
For one last time.
