I became completely overwhelmed tonight as I was turning out the lights. I have pictures of my 4 grandsons hanging on the family room wall. They are all from younger days. Time sometimes feels as if it is literally slipping through my fingers like sand. The feeling of love for those four boys was almost stifling. I have often reminded young mothers to take time with their little ones because it all changes so quickly. I was reading from one of my books by Bob Benson and as always, he was able to say exactly what I so often feel.

Skipping Rocks

It was a bright, sunshiny morning -
the first of ten days off for me -
and I was out in the yard early, working on a wall down by the lake.
Knee-deep in pleasant, warm water
I could hardly have been happier or more at peace.
Patrick came down and began to throw rocks in the water.
You don't have to teach little boys to throw rocks - they just seem to be born
with the skill and the desire.

He wanted me to stop and play with him.
"Teach me how to make them skip."
"In a little while," I said, "let me get a little more of this wall built."
After a while he got tired of waiting and started up the hill to the house.

I figured he'd be back in a few minutes,
but later in the morning when I went up for a drink he was in the bed with a high fever.
It turned out to be a very serious illness
that was to spread through the whole family -
not to mention my vacation.
It took some of us to the
hospital and all of us to bed.
Fortunately for us it was all over in a month or so,
having run its course with no lingering effects.
And there have been other days and other chances
to skip rocks with Patrick.

But I can still see him trudging up that hill -
a long pull for his short legs and I'm reminded that you never know
they're coming back -
there aren't any guarantees,
and the only time you really know you can skip rocks is when you're saying
"in a little while."

Ten years ago, my son reached down as I lay on the couch, and gave me a big hug.
He was leaving for the evening, out with friends.
A few hours later the phone rang and the hospital told us to "hurry".
I can honestly say that my kids and my grand-kids are never in my way. They are always my #1 priority. Because I've learned......
you never know.