In Your Time

A Time for Everything (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8)

There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven:

a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,

a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,

a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,

a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,

a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,

a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,

a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.


A time to drop both Edward and Alison off to elementary school…

It wasn’t like I gave birth to both of them and I couldn’t wait for the day until they were both in school. In fact, I might even be in a bit of denial when I convinced myself that it was just going to be another first day of school: exciting and energizing!

Monday, August 25, 2008: I thought that since I’ve already experienced last year’s emotional roller coaster with Edward’s first day in Kindergarten, I would be totally prepared for Alison’s. The moment she stepped out of the car and started running with her Hello Kitty stroller back pack, and Edward running alongside her, I felt a tiny pinch in my heart. There was no way I could catch up to her, stop her, and let me take a picture of her…

I let it go and simply shared with her excitement. The school ground was buzzing with the Holy Spirit’s love and energy, indeed! Edward was very happy to reunite with his classmates from Kindergarten. Alison stood with pride and enthusiasm – first in line to go inside her classroom!

As Mrs. Corral and Mrs. Caro led their new Kindergarteners to their classroom, my eyes brimmed with tears. There I was by the ramp, in the midst of parents with their cameras – we were all letting our babies go…
And then it hit me… That’s it! I don’t have babies anymore! Both of them are in school now!

I didn’t even have the courage to look into Edison’s eyes. I probably would’ve broken down on his shoulders if I did. So this is how it would feel like on the day I send both of them away to college…

I took a deep breath, squared my shoulders, and bravely faced a brand new season in my life as a mother. College is more than a decade away… For now, I will continue to enjoy every single moment, and cherish every experience I have with my First Grader and Kindergartener.

Dear Lord, As the beautiful song goes: “You make all things beautiful in Your time / Lord, please show me everyday / That You're teaching me Your way / And to do just what You say / In Your time.”