One look at my Lilly Pulitzer planner can tell you nearly everything about my life. Church, dance, Bible Study, performances, dates with friends, auditions, and soon, yes, *gulp*.... school. My days are frequently packed with the good and the bad, the expected and the unexpected.
But every once in a while, God grants me the gift of an outside view. A way to simply take a step back from the "mayhemish" throng of my "high schoolness" to receive a glimpse of the delicate beauty this life holds.
And one of those glimpses was granted to me yesterday.
A dear friend of mine joined me for a cup of tea at a local Java, and I sat listening to her words of wisdom. The laughter and joy we share over the smell of mocha and cinnamon is a most delightful combination of feelings. ;) We went to pick up her daughter from her school down the road, and before the three of us parted ways, we sat in my black 2006 Honda Pilot as rain pattered softly on the windows. The stresses of a new school year, the day's assignments given, and the past weekend's occurrences were the topics of our conversation. But after the light of those conversations began to die out, my dear friend looked at me with eyes filled with sparkles of passion. She began to speak some of the dearest and most insightful words I may have ever heard.
"Lydia," she started. "The Holy Spirit gave me a word for you this morning."
*PAUSE*
Anytime someone gives you a word from the Lord, listen closely.
*RESUME*
"I know that this time of your life seems difficult and filled with challenges. You long for something more and for that something called 'someday'. Yet, you have so many beautiful opportunities and incredible times with family/friends in the palms of your hands," she continued. "I remember when I was a young mom. Diapers and strollers were the norm. People would tell me not to wish away those times because, well, they would disappear before I knew it! Lydia, these times are your babies. One day, you won't be able to be as free with your time and energy as you are now. Treasure the moments with family and friends. Random coffee dates and runs on the Anchorage Trail. These are your 'babies'."
Those words reached something deep within me that my dearest friend couldn't know she had reached. Which truly displays that those WERE words from the Holy Spirit alone.
And she was completely right. Some days, I cannot wait for something more. I long for a day where I am out of school, free to perform and work full time where my heart has always longed to be...the stage. And let's face it...everyone longs for that "something more" at one or more stages in their lives.
But we must treasure our babies. Learn to enjoy the stinky points...the changing of the diapers. Learn to work through new stages with delicate force...baby food to solids. Learn to embrace importance of the thrilling and heart-swelling times...the first steps and the quiet, sudden giggle.
Because one day, that giggle will turn into a full-blown laugh. And then we will realize how important the diapers, the baby food, and the giggles were. The prepared us for who we are today.
"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens."
Ecclesiastes 3:1
NIV
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