10 years ago I was single, wondering what life would hold. I felt that I was already wise to the world, and knew exactly what I should be doing with my life. I was engaged to be married, knowing enough to know that I’d found one I could easily enjoy as a partner for life. My parents were still working, still had hair color, still had no medical concerns. I had 3 grandparents and a life full of family, love, and hope. Looking ahead 10 years brought only smiles and wishes.
Today I am married to the same man, looking forward to our 10th anniversary. Maybe an exotic trip somewhere sans kids. We have two precious children. They are no longer babies and each day I feel their innocence and youth slipping away, even while they still grab me in a big hug or beg for a nighttime snuggle. My parents are aging. Their health is good but I can spot the warning signs in the slowing of their steps. I have no grandparents with me-they have all passed to their Father’s hands. I look around and my breath catches at the sheer amount of love and beauty in my life.
Now, I look 10 years ahead and realize that it’s going to pass quickly. The kids will go off to college. They will succeed and fail in so many ways that I can’t affect. The house will no longer have a pile of undressed Barbies in one corner and baseball cleats cluttering up the garage. There will no longer be a constant stream of playdates and ball games and homework and piano practice. And oh, I will miss this.
10 years from now, I’ll be lucky to have a parent or two left. I know that they can’t live forever but I can’t even wrap my mind around not having them by my side. If more people recognized the sheer joy that comes from obeying the 10th Commandment, perhaps we would see a return to the strength of the family unit. I’ll honor and keep them with me and enjoy every single minute-and make sure that my kids have the kind of strong bond with their grandparents that I enjoyed with mine.
10 years has alternately sounded like forever and a minute. Grandma said, ‘ The older you get, the faster time flies.’ Oh, but she was right. I can’t freeze time. Nor would I. All I can do is realize that if the past 10 years have been this amazing, the next 10 will hold an entirely different set of gifts. I can only look ahead to the journey. And my breath catches again.