“I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.” Ephesians 4:1
School starts back in our area next Wednesday and I am keeping all the teachers, students and parents in my prayers. I remember this demanding time of the year and feeling that summer passed too quickly. As a High School senior English and Speech teacher, I had so much to do before my students arrived; I never slept the night before classes started and neither did our sons!
Even though our sons have families of their own now, I find myself reminiscing about the chaotic schedules we somehow maintained as each phase of their lives brought changes to our home. When they were small, they had physical demands of me; and when they became young teens, they placed mental demands on me. Both forms of demands were very challenging but were also very rewarding. And now as I sit in my quiet home, following a less hectic but still a quite exciting schedule, I have the time to almost miss our past hectic, breath-taking, rollercoaster paced family times.
Now, watching our young grandchildren and their frenzied sports, social and academic busyness totally wears us out. I find it hard to imagine how I survived everything our sons did—not to mention also supporting Keith’s college team. Where did I find the strength, endurance, courage and stamina? But, then again, it wasn’t a choice; I just knew what I had to do and did it. And most of the time, I enjoyed being on life’s treadmill!
“There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under the heavens.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1) When we had a young family, we kept busy. There were times I craved a bit of peace, but I did enjoy watching our sons and Keith’s teams achieve their goals. It wasn’t always easy letting our sons learn for themselves; but somehow I have forgotten most of the difficult challenges of parenting and remember only the good.
The time has flown by too quickly. I love watching our adult sons fathering their children, being good husbands and holding down good jobs. Keith and I have become very close and appreciate the precious time we spend together. We are growing daily in our maturity and walk with our Lord. I’m learning how to follow Ephesians 4:1-4.
We all have intense seasons that we have to manage, but no season lasts forever. We need to learn to appreciate each season of our life and thank God for the lessons we learn. “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” Psalm 90:12
