Leaves lose their grip and fall harmlessly to the ground
twirling, twisting round and round
the season of change is here
different days are ever so near….
I have a friend who moves a lot. He builds a house, lives in it for few months, sells it and builds another. Ask him how many times he’s moved and he has to think about it. I envy him. I love change. Just ask my former employers. While it makes me a bit nervous, I shy away from the status quo. Change is good.
Recently, change came with more than a twinge of sadness. My wife and I are remodeling what was once dubbed “The girl’s playroom.” My daughters will be teenagers this summer. Life is a parade of change and time marches on. Our “Toy Story” moment included boxing up Barbies and favorite stuffed animals and placing them in their new attic home. Other toys found themselves in the donation pile awaiting their new assignments.
I have to ask myself, “Is this really an improvement?” Sure, the room will look great. There will be a fresh coat of paint on the walls, new carpeting on the floor and I’ll no longer feel the pain of stepping barefoot on those tiny Barbie shoes. But there will also be fewer giggles, messy art projects, and tent-city sleepovers.
Seasons change.
The best advice my mom ever gave me was to recognize that while change is inevitable, not to miss what else emerges. You let go of what was and embrace what is. Time changes the colors of our lives. Many things fall to the ground like autumn leaves. But look closer and see that the sun can now shine unhindered through the trees.
We don’t have our little girls anymore. Like the leaves, we’ve lost our grip. But we do have two smart, beautiful, creative and endlessly-entertaining young ladies.
Tonight, as the lights go out in the attic, and the toys awaken and begin to whisper how fun it was to play with Emily and Megan, the sounds of two giggling little angels breeze through my memories.
Twirling, twisting, round and round….