We have this moment

 

I got a text from my little sister Tuesday asking me what time I was going for a walk on the bike trail. I actually had no plans to walk, as I have been so tired lately that a nap sounded better than a walk when I got home. I replied with a "not sure." She replied back and asked if I wanted to meet them at the bike trail for a walk, or if I'd rather go alone. Since I hadn't planned on walking anyway, a walk with my sister, brother-in-law, and nephews sounded more fun than a walk by myself or a nap.... so I went for it.

  My nephews brought their bicycles and would ride ahead and wait for us to catch up on foot. The weather was awesome for a walk, and though the Greenway Trail wasn't very green; it was still an enjoyable walk. I suggested we climb the steep rock steps up to where there are a lot of rocks and a high rock wall that people occasionally climb on with climbing gear. My nephews had never been up there, and it was fun to watch them explore and climb on the rocks.

On our way back, we walked down to the dam and creek that runs close to the bike trail and stood watching the water. A decision was made that they were going to my parents' for a while, and when we reached our vehicles all 3 nephews asked if they could ride with me, and my youngest nephew called "shotgun", so he was in the front. We were going less than a mile, but it made this uncle feel good that they wanted to ride with me, though I didn't take their dare to tear out of the parking lot at 55 mph....the speed linit being 35 there.

  Rewind a few days. My sister and her gang was at my parents' and the boys were outside. Nine year old Nathan came upstairs and asked me "Uncle Mark, will you play the Wii with me?" I was enjoying chatting with the adults, but I went down and played the Wii with him.

There's an old Bill and Gloria Gaither song that goes like this:

We have this moment to hold in our hands
And to touch as it slips through our fingers like sand
Yesterday's gone and tomorrow may never come
But we have this moment today

  Life is so fleeting. I am in my mid 40's and wonder where the years have gone. It seems like just yesterday I became an uncle for the first time, and that niece will be 21 in October. Graduation from high school doesn't seem almost 30 years ago, but it has almost been that long.

  How many special moments have slipped by while I was busy doing my own thing? Years from now, what will I have wished I had done differently? Will I be happy with the amount of time I spent with those I love, or will I wish I could go back and redo so many moments?

We are all too busy, but I never want to be so busy that I say no to doing something with the kids I love so much. I never want to be too busy to be a friend, to listen, to pray, to just be there for those in my life. Yesterday is already gone, and we have no guarantee of tomorrow..... but we have this moment today.


We Have This Moment

Hold tight to the sound of the music of living,
Happy songs from the laughter of children at play;
Hold my hand as we run through the sweet fragrant meadows,
Making mem'ries of what was today.

Chorus: We have this moment to hold in our hands
and to touch as it slips through our fingers like sand;
Yesterday's gone and tomorrow may never come,
But we have this moment today.

Tiny voice that I hear is my little girl calling,
For Daddy to hear just what she has to say;
And my little son running there by the hillside,
May never be quite like today.

Tender words, gentle touch and a good cup of coffee,
And someone that loves me and wants me to stay;
Hold them near while they're here and don't wait for tomorrow,
To look back and wish for today.

Take the blue of the sky and the green of the forest,
And the gold and the brown of the freshly mown hay;
Add the pale shades of spring and the circus of autumn,
And weave you a lovely today.