Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da

Ecclesiastes 3:1 To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven.

I remember the first time I - young, almost twenty-something Jamie - read this verse in the bible. I remember thinking, "Yeah. Life has seasons. Childhood. Adulthood. Parenthood.  And Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da, life goes on."

But it's one thing to know something in your head and quite another matter to know it in your heart. 

As I age, my heart is learning that life has seasons.  And when a season ends and is gone forever - never to return again - you can't help but feel some sadness for its loss.

Case in point: Hannah (my, now, three-year-old) got new bedroom furniture this past weekend - twin size bed, side table, and dresser.  This meant we had to throw away her crib and mattress - the last of which this house will see.  It also entailed selling the rocker and ottoman in which I rocked both my girls. And finally, I sold off some old books and toys they shared.

You see where I'm going with this, right?

During all this transition, I had a few emotional moments, and I must admit that surprised me!  See, I'm not fond of the baby and toddler years that form the beginning of parenthood.  I work better with kids who can sleep through the night, pee and poop in a potty, and think and verbalize rational thoughts.  I should have been giddy to move Hannah into her new big girl room as that symbolized she was close to mastering all these abilities, and I was... until I grabbed "Pajama Time."

"Pajama Time" is one of the first books I read to Hannah before bedtime to help establish a bedtime routine.  She used to laugh and giggle with glee as I'd read the silly tale of these animals getting ready for bed in different colored pajamas while dancing to the left and dancing to the right.

But, dang it, even as I write about this book, I feel myself choking back tears!  What's up with that?! It's just a book for crying out loud!

A book.  A book that - as I sat there with it in my hands trying to decide if I wanted to sell it or not - sent my mind racing back to a particular season of Hannah's life when she was just a baby on my knees before bed looking to her momma to help put her to sleep.

I couldn't sell the book.

It was a season - albeit a sleep deprived one - that I knew I never wanted to forget. A season that was - despite some of its trials - a blessing from God in my life.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 He has made everything beautiful in its time.

My oldest daughter, Beth, is - at the young age of seven - having to come to grips with the realities of Ecclesiastes 3. 

She lost her bedtime bear - her lovey - at Target yesterday.

I gave her that bear the day she came home from the hospital.  It has slept with her ever since that day.  I often warned her not to take it out of the house, but lately, she had gotten into a habit of sneaking it out and taking it with her. The above pic was taken by her in the car with my phone seven days before she lost it.  As you can see by its wear, it was well loved!

We - yes, we - have cried many tears over that lost bear, but it has oddly seemed fitting that it was lost during this week of transitions.  During this week of exiting seasons and entering into new ones.

Bedtime bear served his purpose.  His season with Beth is now done. They had a beautiful relationship these two, but now, it is over.

And that's life, right?  Filled with seasons that begin and must come to an end.

Job 1:21 The Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh away.  Blessed be the name of the Lord.

Good bye, bedtime bear. WE will miss you!

Today's forget-me-not: Find a way today to enjoy your current season and everything and everyone that is in it! You never know when it will come to its end.