No Longer Little

I have been struggling, lately, with the passing of time.
With two teenagers now, and only one little, I am seeing the pace of time quicken.
I am experiencing this deep pain of mourning, as I reminisce each precious phase of these kids’ lives pass before my very eyes, wishing I could get it back again, if only just for a moment.
I long to rock babies, hold toddlers, and walk hand in hand with my littles again.
I yearn to go back and do each phase a million times over.
I want to slow each moment down, extending it forever.
It hurts.
But I am learning that I cannot let the passing of one season rob me the joy of the next.
I cannot let the dread of it coming to an end cheat me out of the delight of the moment I am in.
As I look at this picture I know that this season will also be one I hold onto so dearly, and will one day mourn the passing of.
Although there will be no more nursing babies, little hands reaching for help, or middle of the night rocking-chair snuggles, there is now sitting around a table talking about the big things in life, walking them through big, hard decisions, laughing at their teenage humor, and watching them become who they were created to be, with a deep admiration for who that is.
It's not over, it is just a different season, one where the stakes feel higher and the time shorter, but the blessings are just as abundant.
I will continue to fight, these days, not to mourn the passing of time, but instead, to celebrate it;
to truly comprehend that this is what it was all about, all along… raising them up…
Motherhood is the highest calling and greatest joy of my life, through all the seasons.