Cherish the moments

Seventy-three years ago today, while Grandpa was away serving in the Navy, my Grandmother was in a hospital in Kansas City, giving birth to a precious baby boy.  Grandma has already been gone six years now.  While we celebrate my Daddy today, I’m reminded so significantly, that time changes everything.

And it goes way too fast.  

Over the weekend, I got the privilege of making an unexpected road trip with my Dad.  It was late at night and I was struggling to see while driving on the busy highway (yet another reminder that time is marching on), but we were still able to have some meaningful conversations.  In a moment I’ll never forget, he said:

“One day, after I’m gone, when you’re sitting with your grown children, you’ll look back and remember the way I talk about getting older and time passing.  It will suddenly click, because you’ll feel the way I do.  It’s almost surreal to see that so much life has passed before you and realize the time you have left is limited.  I know it, because I remember Grandma telling me, and now I’m here.” 

With wet eyes and a tingling nose, I reached over and grabbed his hand.  

The truth of his words rang so true.  The weight of his words pierced my heart.  They will always stay with me.  I know, because I see it already.  I see it when I look at pictures of my boys as babies one minute and then look up at their grown man-bodies the next.

Oh, how I wish time could just slow down. 

The reality is, of course, that it doesn’t.  So today, we will celebrate big!  We will gather to laugh and tell stories about PeePaw and all the ways he’s influenced our lives.  We’ll celebrate 73 years with the man who held me, guided me, and taught me almost everything I know about how to love people.  We will cherish the moments.

We’ll remember that they are precious, and they are fleeting. 

You’re only promised this moment, not the next.

So celebrate life. 

Celebrate big.

Celebrate together.

to more love,

Crystal