Time flies

“You won’t believe what your daughter said.” As those words left my wife’s lips, my mind raced. For a moment I was trying to figure out if the words were meant to prepare me for something bad or just something silly. The smile on my wife’s face seemed to hint that what I was about to hear would brighten my day, so I eagerly inquired as to what was said. As my wife began telling me about Riyann’s choice of clothing for the day, she said Riy stood by the mirror looking herself over when out of the blue she said, “I’m wearing this to church tomorrow, I’m gonna turn some heads and break some hearts.”

As we laughed, I asked her what the child was wearing. I knew her outfit most likely contained the new pair of cowboy boots she recently received but I couldn’t imagine what else would illicit such a response from my little angel. Within moments my cell phone rang. When I picked up my phone, I noticed that my wife had sent me a picture. Before me stood my daughter all dressed in black, looking like a teenage cowgirl ready for a night out on the town. As I did my best to breathe, I felt an overwhelming urge to fight back my desire for commencing the next meeting of the Dads Against Daughters Dating Club. Although my child looked amazing in her new outfit, I couldn’t help but wonder where the time has gone and how it was possible that she has grown up so fast.

It seems like just yesterday, she was waddling around, totally dependent on dear old Dad. It is a testament of how unfair life truly is at times. As I thought about the picture and time in general, I couldn’t help but consider how many things come and go, sometimes before we even realize they have gone. We sit around, enjoying the moments we love and before long, those same things have grown and are enjoying their own existence, absence a need for us.

Although part of the master plan, the loss we sometimes feel as we come to recognize the passing of time and growth, remains difficult to cope with. I look at my daughter’s face. A face which has changed over time. No longer do I see the chubby-cheeked little lady reaching for her daddy. That face has been replaced by the face of a woman ready to conquer the world. It’s not easy, but part of me feels a sense of excitement over the possibilities which are unfolding before her eyes.

It’s easy to ask ourselves where time goes as we recognize the changes within those we hold dear. The key, I think, is that we see change as an agent of opportunity. Not only opportunities for our loved ones but also the opportunity for us to remember the process and revel in the fact that we were there, walking alongside throughout the journey of growth. Understanding all of this, I still wouldn’t mind if time slowed down a little bit. I am sure you wouldn’t either.