PostPoems Be Artistic. Be Creative. Be Inspired!

Today I’m grateful for understanding the importance of time

For it is my belief…my contention….

That whenever our children need it…

we should find the time

to give them our undivided attention.

Today I’m grateful for my understanding time:

For knowing time is as precious as can be…

makes me grateful for those who choose

to spend their time with me.

May we be blessed to understand the dichotomies of time….

(For dichotomies is something time shall never lack!)

It’s free…yet it’s priceless

and once you’ve lost it…you can never get it back.

From the moment of our birth…as we compose our daily rhyme…

we are free-floating on a river…a river we call time.

Somewhere as we’re floating…perhaps in a moment of silent reflection…

We realize this river of time flows at one speed…and in only one direction. 

We accept these restrictions created by this stream….

knowing if the current ever stopped flowing…

we’d have no memories…no dreams.

There are times of sorrow, however, times that make us cry

times of tragedy and disaster…

when we wish that river of time would flow along a little faster.

There are other times, however, times of great happiness and joy

perfect moments that make us smile….

when we wish that river would slow down…or pause a little while.

But wishing time will speed up or slow down…leaves us disappointed and frustrated…

because we know that’s not how time works…not how she was created.

So we do our best to enjoy the ride as we float on this ever-flowing stream

content to turn our moments into memories…and our wishes into dreams.

May we be blessed 

to enjoy every moment we can with our children 

and our grandchildren

enjoy every moment….before…

We turn around one day and realize…

they are not children or grandchildren any more.

It’s funny what went through my mind…the joy….the wonder….the pride

when I looked into the eyes of my grandson,

as he looked into the eyes of his bride.

As I watched this wonderful young man…I found it difficult to understand…. 

where all the time has gone since I could pick him up…

and carry him with one hand?

Since I took him for walks in his stroller….

and pointed out all the things there were to see.

When did this little boy I use to cradle…

become taller and wiser than me?

I still see that same smile…that same eagerness…

that same innocence and joy

as I saw in him every time I picked him up when he was a little boy.

But gone are the days I could pick him up…

or tuck him into bed snug as a bug in a rug

Those times I would carry him around the house when he visited

have been replaced with a ‘Hi PopPop” and a hug.

Oh I am not complaining…everything is great…it’s wonderful…it’s good. 

Life has moved on as it is meant to move on…as it always should.

But as I stood there watching Damien marry the love of his life….

when I heard the wedding bell chime….

I thought back and wondered how great it would be

If I could pick him up with one hand

and carry him…

one more time.

We’re taught that time moves ever forward…in a solid line…with no slack…

that the eyes of time stare straight ahead…never looking back.

But we have found the older we grow…this isn’t always true.

because sometimes, if you’re lucky, time will circle back to you.

Deborah and I spent a lot of time with our children 

and  our grandchildren when they were young.

That was our intent..

Homework, holidays, birthdays, soccer games…

we considered it time well spent.

We saw them at their best and worst behavior

We felt their joy and sadness too.

They saw us the same and learned how we were human too.

We sang with them, we danced with them

Deborah baked some of their birthday cakes.

From us they learned no-one is perfect and it’s okay to make mistakes.

We like to think, when each and every one of our family members

look back on our life together…it’s those times they will remember.

Yesterday Ava, our youngest grandchild…who’s about to turn 18

proved, without a doubt, exactly what I mean.

She texted us that she and two friends were in Dunedin…and thus

wanted to know if she could come by and spend a little time with us.

As we visited with Ava and her friends I thought…

how time does have some slack…

how every now and then she allows us to circle back.

Yes, time does move ever forward…we know this to be true…

But if you spend time with your children and grandchildren 

when they are young…

when you are all a little older they will circle back

and spend some time with you. 

There is a secret to dealing with time

so we’re not angry, confused or perplexed….

It’s to enjoy this moment

let it pass

then welcome in the next.

We know the exact moment our time on Earth began

but since we don’t know exactly when it will end

may we think of time less as an enemy

and accept her as our friend

And in the span that she has given us

before she puts us all to bed

may we treat the world with kindness

and leave no important word unsaid.