My sweet grandson was dedicated at my son’s church a few weeks ago. It was a really cool part of their church service where they set apart the family and prayed for them, anoint them with oil, and agree to be there and help them as they raise their child to love God.
This Tiki (my Grandma name) was misty-eyed the entire time. I was just feeling all the feels as my son and daughter-in-law sat in the row in front of me holding my grandson as we prayed for them surrounded by family and friends.
As a segway into the dedication part of the service, they showed a video, and it wrecked me.
Picture if you will, a sweet video of a new-to-be momma and dadda painting and decorating the baby’s room in preparation for the new arrival. Then the video shifts to the first steps and first words, then to the first day of school. Sappy music is playing in the background and I leaned up to my son and whispered in his ear, “You’re killing me here with this video, son.” The video is not quite done yet; it develops in the story and progresses to teeth lost, broken hearts, broken bones, and sports teams all while the room changes from the baby room to that of a teen, and a messy one at that.
I’m sure you get the idea and can see where this is going. By now I am sobbing, like a deep loud ugly sob.
The video continues with the teen angst, the car keys, and the high school activities, then shifts to an empty room for college, then messy with boxes, and then a room that once was the baby room now becomes a guest room or a sewing room. No traces of said child anywhere.
Then words came across the video:
It’s just a phase. Don’t miss it.
I sat there in my dressy red pantsuit, feeling like I had just spent the last eight hours with my counselor bearing my soul. Flooded by all of those memories of our four older children that have been through each and every phase, I just cried.
Mommas, parenting can be hard, lonely and exhausting. Parenting can be stressful and can be rewarding and can be exhausting. Parenting will challenge you and will stretch you and will exhaust you (are you noticing a pattern?).
Buckle up, hold on tight, this is an adventure like no other.
It’s just a phase. Don’t miss it.
