There's a time for joy, a time for tears . . .

There’s a time for joy, a time for tears . . .

I’m feeling a bit melancholy this evening. We have a new licensed driver in the house and graduation day is coming soon for my youngest child, Dave. My son has become a wonderful young man. As a parent there comes a time when we are faced with a moment of true realization “it’s time to let them go”. The years go by so fast; it’s such a cliché, but true.
I’ve enjoyed being a parent even in times when my children have had a bout of difficult behavior, bad moods, scoldings, timeouts, even tantrums. At the end of the day, I’ve loved them the best way I knew how. I may not have always been right, but I was consistent and persistent about things that I believed in (sniff, sniff).

I was raised by wonderful parents (technically two sets of parents) who taught me so much. Although divorced and both remarried, they taught me and my sisters to love everyone. My parents and their spouses, believe it or not, were best friends. Through their example, they taught us to put everyone’s less than perfect history or character flaws to the wayside. Dating back to the Old Testament people of that time dealt with society pressures such as alcoholism, sexual abuse, sexuality issues, children born out of wedlock, divorces, adultery, the list can go on and on. Families today are not exempt from similar characters, whether it’s in the immediate family or friends of the family. We still love, still welcome all with open arms and always forgiveness.

I am blessed to still have my mother with me. And she is my dearest friend and confidant. I don’t get to see my mother too much we live a distance from each other. We talk on the phone mostly. But, the conversations we have are so deep and moving and many times I am drawn to sweet tears before we hang up. Our conversations have had and will continue to have a profound affect on my life. I love her dearly (I’m wiping tears from my eyes again). Through my mother I credit my love for God. She is a “God whisperer”. She may not speak straight out about God, but she alludes to Him loudly. My father . . . (sigh, breath deep)

we lost him four months ago. From him I saw the quality of a giver. Not necessarily monetary, but he gave of himself in charitable works and words. He kept people company and often spent time talking to the homeless and those who seemed to be friendless. A quality I find praiseworthy. And then there is Rod. Rod is my mother’s husband. Rod has had quite the challenging life. Things didn’t always go his way. What he taught me was that no matter what set backs you have experienced, you get up, dust yourself off and go at it again. He was always consistent with us, he always loved, even through times of trials and rejection. I love him for that. I pray for his health, dear Lord, may you spare him from his suffering. Lastly, there is Sandy, my Dad’s wife, now widow. Sandy is from Thailand. A very different woman, not a traditional Americanized woman. As I watched her while she was married to my father I saw love, dedication and devotion in a different way, in a different light. She loves with a different kind of passion. She’s a sensitive woman, has a good heart and her presence in the family is a testament to how wonderfully people from around the world can co-exist and love in harmony.

I don’t know at this point in my life what kinds of impressions, memories, traditions or attitudes that my children hold in their hearts and minds because of me and whom I am. I have that to look forward to. I imagine it will take the rest of my life with them to reveal some of their secrets, their likes and dislikes with respect to values, morals, religion, rearing, motivation, good memories, bad memories, disappointments and triumphs. (or they can make a comment on this blog, what a grand idea!!)

Now that my heart has been squished, squashed and squeezed, I’ll retire for this evening, actually morning. I believe it’s 12:45 a.m. now. I couldn’t finish until I wrote something for my children. “Because you Believe” – my song - I love you my babies!! Love Me