Bittersweet Change

For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.  Genesis 2:24

The day has come.  It is officially one month until my daughter’s wedding.  Panic has set in and important details are falling into place… like boulders!  Yes, this is a stressful time as anyone who has ever planned a wedding can tell you.  In fact, I’m not quite sure which is more stressful, this wedding or my own wedding nearly 25 years ago. 

This time of year is always bittersweet for me anyway with school and programs at church coming to an end.  For my kids, saying goodbye to school friends for the summer is hard.  Then there are the teachers that have meant so much and been a wonderful influence in their lives.  My son is moving on to Middle School so a whole chapter in his life is over and a new, exciting chapter is about to begin.  The prospect of summer coming is something fun to look forward to with relaxing days, swimming, camp, VBS, etc…

Where Have All the Years Gone?
So back to my daughter getting married.  She too will be finishing one chapter and moving on to a new, exciting chapter.  Which in turn means a new chapter for me.  My little girl is transitioning to womanhood and her life is flashing before my eyes.  Nostalgic feelings flood me daily and seem to be getting stronger as we get closer to the “Big Day”. The transition from diaper to wedding dress has happened so fast that my mind is reeling.  I have many individual and separate memories but they are all a part of one big blur, the blur of my life as her mother.  Memories are such a valuable gift that God gave us.  I know I am not finished being her mother, but as this chapter of our lives is closing and another beginning, I have memories I can hold on to remind me of all the sweet years gone by. 

Some of my fondest memories are of when my daughter was little.  I remember reading her book after book, and reading the same book 1,000 times because she loved it. (Are You My Mother?)  I can still hear her tiny voice and sweet laughter.  I still have my favorite dresses of hers hanging in a closet at home and stacks of pictures she drew.  I remember trips we took, movies we saw, school projects, volunteering at the Center of Hope, hanging out at the pool all summer and many other things we did as she was growing up.  These memories I will have with me after she walks down the aisle and into her own life.  They will never fade and I will cherish them forever.

Time Flies
Memories are very important because they connect our past to our present and future and they connect us to one another. Memories can help us learn about ourselves.  They remind us where we came from, why we think the way we do and where all of our little idiosyncrasies came from. They contribute to making us the person we are today.  Knowledge of oneself is power, and you acquire it by looking inside and at your external experiences. It is one of the ways we find meaning in our lives.  It helps us realize who we are. And at the end of 18 years as your child leaves for college, marriage, or life on their own you still have the memories of the time you have shared throughout their lives. 

Hopefully my daughter has some happy memories of her life to take with her as well.  I hope she will find value in what we tried to do as her parents and I trust she will remember the important things and beg of her to forget our mistakes!  All these memories are a part of the amazing woman she has become.  I am so thankful for the wonderful man that God has brought into her life and I greatly anticipate God’s plan for their future together.  I know she has many happy memories waiting for her in the years to come! 

Scripture to Claim:

We will not conceal them from their children, but tell to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and His strength and His wondrous works that He has done. Psalms 78:4