November 3, 1997
"Stark in Their Beauty"
by Diana Waring

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Dear Friends, Home at last! After two weeks of traveling, we were absolutely delighted to come home... our own beds, home cookin', all of the familiar routines of life... Hmmm... What is different? Not known for my attention to details, I nevertheless recognized immediately that something about "home" had changed drastically in these two weeks: "Aha! Our trees must have tired of this year's fashions, because they've all dropped their leaves!!" Stark in their beauty, our trees and their branches await winter costumes of snow. All of the leaves in our yard sit patiently, knowing that eventually we'll get around to raking. The birdfeeders are the most popular spot in town for the feathered community, since it won't be long until days of cold, blowing snow considerably decrease the "eatable moment". The sky is looking more and more like a winter sky, and even the smell of the great outdoors warns of imminent snowfall. Hmmm. It seems like only yesterday I was raking newly mown grass in the yard, rather than leaves. And we rejoiced in our central air conditioning as the summer sidewalks melted in the heat. The hills around our home were verdant green, lush in flowers, meadows and song birds. Now, it is winter's eve. How did everything change so quickly? I remember when our children were very young - diapers, sleepless nights, unexplainable crying jags. People would say, "Oh, enjoy this time with your babies. It passes so quickly!" My internal reaction to this easily-spoken-and-less easily-lived line was, "I'll REALLY enjoy it when I can get some sleep and some time to myself!!!" It seemed like they would always be two years old... or three... or four... or five... And then, one day, when we weren't looking, they grew up! I vividly remember the scene when my oldest, Isaac, was guilty of leaving the bread and peanut butter on the counter - something he had been told numerous times not to do. When I saw the evidence, I knew immediately the perpetrator of the crime. "Isaac David Waring!!!!! Would you please come in here!!!!!!" A very penitent boy shuffled into the kitchen. "Why do I have to continue to tell you to put this stuff away????!!! Don't you realize that when you leave the bread bag open that all - er - all the, uh..." Suddenly, I realized that in order to read Isaac the "riot act", I was having tolift my eyes and look UP! A break in the monologue, a twinkle in my eye, a grin trying to sneak out of my mouth... I felt like singing, "When did he grow to be so tall?" (you know, Fiddler on the Roof). Pretty soon I was laughing, and Isaac, since he knows a good thing when he sees it, began laughing too. Before we knew it, our next son, Michael was shooting up in height. We used to joke with friends, "Yup. When we're bored we just sit around watching Michael grow." And not only were these two boys, and their sprouting sister, Melody, growing physically. They were growing spiritually, mentally, emotionally... We were beginning to have the most marvelous discussions about life, God, finances... People were starting to refer to us as "Isaac's dad" or "Michael's mom" or "Melody's parents"... We are in the eve of our children's adulthood. It is sobering to realize that we have less than two years left as Isaac's teachers. Michael is already planning his college studies, and Melody is searching the library to discover the best conservatory for studying violin. How did this happen so quickly? ("Wasn't it yesterday when they were small?") We have heard parents say, more often than I care to recall, "Oh, I can't wait for September, and the beginning of school, to get these kids out of my hair!!" And, from homeschool parents, "If we could only afford that other curriculum..." Or, "If the little ones would nap better - we would enjoy our school time together a lot more." And, from teenagers, "I can't wait to get out of here and on my own!" May I encourage you today, regardless of the season of your life, to recognize how precious this moment is with your family. Each moment is a blessed opportunity to love them, to listen to them, play with them, read to them, pray with them. Each day is a gift from God, may we use it wisely and lovingly. Psalm 90:12 "So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom." Blessings, Diana Return to the List of the BOTCW Columns

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