Half Done ~ By Dionna Sanchez

I was listening to a speaker online this morning and she was talking about how her child was 10 years old and her time with him was half over.  She meant of course, that her time and job as a mom was half over.

I immediately let out a gasp and a cry - "NO!", I thought. You see, my daughters are ages 11 and 9.  The thought that my time with them is half over just struck my heart.  I can't imagine living life without them.  Of course, I don't mean that tragedy will befall them and they will perish before they can live a full life; although I pray with all my being that that doesn't happen.  I mean that I can imagine coming home to a house that doesn't include them living in it.  I can't imagine not getting a hug each day or hearing their laughter or seeing their smiles.  I can't imagine not having to do something for them because that was what I was created to do!  It just seems wrong to me.

Yet, that is my job.  To prepare my children so adequately that they are equipped to leave me.  That is a true testament of love.  And it hurts.

My children may end up living half a world away from me.  They may live in the same town but be so busy with their lives that we don't talk or see one another often.  My time with them is half done.

The realization of that fact has so shaken me this morning that my heart feels like it has cracked into two.  And yet whatever I feel or think, I cannot change the passing of time.  I can't halt them from growing up.  It's normal, natural and the cycle of life.  All I can do is maximize my time with them the best I know how.  I can drop what I'm doing to play with them or stop doing a project or chore and truly listen when they want to talk to me.  It is so easy to prioritize the things that need to be done over our children!  How many times do we say, "Not now" - "I'm busy right now" or "Maybe alter?"  what if we don't get a "later?"

I don't know how old your children are. But if you only have a few years left with them I pray you will maximize those years the best you can.  It's never too late to redeem a relationship.  And if your children are so very young, before you know it you will be at the half-point mark just as I am, contemplating and wondering where the time went.  When you are tired and worn out, remember how little time left you have raising those precious beings.

We are blessed to have the time we have with our children.  Let's make the most of every minute - before it's gone.

~ Dionna Sanchez is the Founder of Emphasis On Moms at http://www.EmphasisOnMoms.com/ - she also maintains a blog for moms where she shares her faith at http://beautyinthestorm.blogspot.com