This week’s Five Minute Friday prompt is on the word hold. I didn’t have to think long before I remembered those nights in the hospital with each of my four little ones. Daddy asleep in the wee hours of the morning and Mommy having her special moment nursing our newest addition.  Hold hasn’t changed much for me, but it’s deeper. More urgent. It takes my breath away sometimes and there’s a hurt in my chest.
…and then I remember that we do it all for a glorious reason. Training them up in the way they should go. Showing them how to love Him. How to love the world. How to hold on to Truth…
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Hold
Start:
“There’s less than eight years left with the oldest one,” we tell ourselves as we stand on the hardwood one cool, late summer evening. “How did it go by so quickly?” I shake my head, partly in disbelief. Partly in sheer and utter amazement.
And I hold them a little closer to let it all sink in…
It’s a realization that you know is there, but it swiftly overtakes you. Like lying in the grass on a day when the clouds are particularly low, shadows moving across the ground like approaching giants.
Just as the giant tries to snatch Jack up for his Englishman bread, so does time snatch childhood from my babies.
And I hold them a little closer when I let it all sink in…
What was the quote? “One golden hour set with sixty diamond minutes? Â No reward is offered for it is lost forever…”
Yes. That’s about right.
But is it really gone? Or is it stored up in memory to serve as the feel good that gets me through this life on earth. The satisfaction to know that I was here for a purpose even when some days I might not be able to figure that one out. Even if our mission as disciples goes no further than the carpet beneath our feet, Lord let us do well with these children. Let us show them how to love You.
And I hold them a little closer as I let it all sink in…
It’s not really gone. It’s an investment. One we cherish more so than anything else and it’s through God’s grace that we are given that privilege to hold them. To smell their freshly bathed hair. To wrap them in soft blankets and snuggle them quite silly. To teach them about the One who loves them more than anything they will ever encounter.
The One that will hold them closer than I ever could…
Stop.
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Won’t you join me this week for Five Minute Friday over at Kate Motaung’s page?  We’d love to see you there!  Just familiarize yourself with this page first, no editing, and set your watch for five minutes.
Even if our mission as disciples goes no further than the carpet beneath our feet, Lord let us do well with these children. Let us show them how to love You. – I love this phrase! i enjoyed this whole post. I don’t think a mom can hear the word hold and not think about cradling a child in love. it was beautiful!
Thank you so much for your kind words!
A lovely post! I’ve never heard the saying about the golden hour with diamond minutes. I like that. I find the older I grow, the more closely I want to hold those Iove. Popping in from #FMFparty. Blessings to you.
Thank you so much, Leah. I’m not sure what made me recall it (and so quickly!) but I’m glad I did. Thank you for sharing your comment with me.
Oh so much Amen, my friend! Just so so much!
Oh, Karrilee – and I know you know these words all too well. Hope your girl is doing well. 🙂
its an investment but so much more than just an investment… it is a treasure we are gathering and sharing all at once.
beautiful children – love the photo!
Thank you so much, Richelle!
Tears! I have seen My Three Sons grow up and leave home to start their own journeys and I am in this season of life they call an Empty Nest. I love what you said here: “Or is it stored up in memory to serve as the feel good that gets me through this life on earth.” I live on those memories but even more so I live on in their lives and ENJOY their lives knowing I had a part in them. Blessings, I was your neighbor at Kate’s today. And I am sharing this sweet post! ♥
Thank you so much for your kind words. I was JUST over visiting your site and loved your post. Blessings to you!
Simply beautiful, Jennifer! It’s incredible how fast they grow, isn’t it? How wonderful it is for us to know that the God of the universe is holding all of us in His loving hands. Have a blessed weekend.