Now

They drive me nuts.  Each and every day, they make me want to pull my hair out one strand at a time.

And, I drive them equally crazy.  I nag them & make them brush their teeth & remind them to be nice to each other.

Every day is a lesson in endurance.

Until the day you're reminded that it is supposed to be a marathon - not a sprint.

You're supposed to have decades and decades to teach and watch and guide.  You're meant to mother them until long after they've become mothers of their own.  You are meant to have all the time in the world to squeeze in every lesson they need to learn.  Every hug they need to feel.  Every smile they need to hear.  

Only, sometimes, the time is cut short.  Sometimes, you only get a few short years with them.  Sometimes, tragedy takes you from them long before anyone is ready.  Sometimes, your time with your children is stolen from you.

Tonight, a little girl I came to know is without her mother.  A little girl who raced alongside my Eva in track.  A little girl who became my Maya's book buddy in kindergarten.  A little girl who had an awesome mom.

Her mom adored her.  Her mom supported and loved her.  Her mom lived for that little girl.

Time is passing.  Right now, seconds are flying by.

Hold those you love now.

Tell those you love now.

Show those you love everything you've been waiting to show them. Now.

Yes, keep nagging them & reminding them to brush their teeth & forcing them to be nice to each other.  But, do it now.

Sometimes you need a reminder that now is important.  There is a mom new to heaven tonight, and I think she would say that now is all we've got.  

My heart is hurting now.  My thoughts and prayers are with that little girl and her dad now.  

And, if I'm lucky, I will get a million more moments of now to give to my daughters.  Please let me use those moments wisely.