Precious Moments

by Teri Spray

As the terrible events of September 11 unfolded, one fact became increasingly clear to me: Time Is Precious. I know that the days of winter may seem long and arduous as the snow flies during our Colorado spring/winter slushy times. To some, I'm sure time seems to drag on, but when we look at our precious moments, it is far too fleeting. What precious moments have you experienced during this past home school year? Did you have some school-defining moments when the "a ha!" came forth as confusion fell away and new skills became mastered? Have you had times of closeness and understanding which are powerful, yet hard to describe? Perhaps your family has a few fond memories of this past year. I hope you have preserved your moments with pictures as much as possible.

Precious Pictures
Perhaps because I forget things more easily as I age, I find myself grabbing my camera more often now to hold the moments I see. I keep a camera handy by the door in the living room at all times. I try to make sure the camera is loaded and the battery ready for use. My scrapbooks will get done when my home is quieter one of these days... until then, I can hold these precious images in my hand and know they will not be forgotten. I have taken pictures of Meredith and Jennifer reading together, of Jenny discovering snow, flowers or rocks.

Precious People
Today I cannot imagine depth of the loss of the thousands of loved ones in New York. I can only wonder what legacy those who were lost left behind for their survivors. I encourage you to talke time now to craft your legacy as a believer. Record your answers to prayer. Journal the hand of God over you and your loved ones. I recently received a letter from one of my very first Christian Cottage School students. Sara is now a wonderful young lady who is becoming a light for Christ to her family and to the world as she prepares for her third missions trip. She wrote to thank me for ministering to her as a child. We never know where or when the seeds we plant will produce fruit. The time seeds which you are sowing into your children's lives today may reap eternal fruit in the kingdom of God. We as parents must simply be obedient to continue to sow God's truth and blessing into our children and others day after day....

Precious Phrases
Precious moments which may be only memories to you might include those funny little phrases of your toddler's first words. My family still chuckles as we remember phrases long since outgrown and forgotten by grown children. My nearly-forty-year-old kid brother said precious phrases as "DISTAPPEARED!" when items were lost, or "BROKEN-BUY NEW ONE!" when items were damaged. (Though David neither remembers nor utters any of those adorable sayings today, I can't help but chuckle that his job of the past 10 years at his brother's furniture store has been to make like-new repairs so NO furniture is sold below retail or needlessly replaced.) Today I enjoy hearing little 25-month-old Jennifer refer to herself as "Jipper." I have a feeling that self-proclaimed nickname may stick around for awhile.

Precious Days
Can you find a night to commit to unity in your family? Can you turn off the telephone and the pager and focus only upon each other for one night? Jewish families do this on Friday night as it begins their Sabbath rest. They continue their family time until the following sundown. When our tour guides in Israel began their Sabbath, they were tired and ready to be with their families. When they returned to us after the Sabbath, they seemed so refreshed, it was as if they had been on holiday! These precious opportunities with your children will last only for a few years. When children begin to work outside of the home, family time-out can become quite scarce. I remember how my junior high-age children pressured us to have family fun nights, only 2-3 years later, we struggled to schedule time together. Now, even holidays are a major challenge for us to schedule.

I have decided that the greatest thieves of precious moments are probably the television set, playstation games, and computer screens. Add to that, a plethora of non-family activities such as youth groups, kid's clubs, sports, rehearsals and practices and you have a family on a dead-run half of the time. Most families have found they need to limit outside commitments to one per member for ages nine and up. Turn off the television and read a good book together. Play some games, share some love, have some fun, make some memories. Build a legacy!