Growing Up

About a month ago, I had the great privilege of ministering to small toddlers and babies whose families are just becoming missionaries and who soon will be entering the field of their ministry in another country. The joy of serving these kids has been a tremendous blessing to me. Also, more than often in working with small children, my mind ponders what it was like to be so small and so young. In reflecting upon my own life, I think especially of how adventurous and sometimes trying growing up can be. I'd like to share these thoughts with you in a poem that I wrote on the subject a few years back.


Life Lessons

I'm packing up my life again
Life's so short, I remember when
We were all still children
But all things have their end

First you live in innocence
Unknown to yet your greater purpose
But hard times wash away the ignorance
They no more can your heart oppress

Life moves on, you learn to live
To win and lose and take and give
To not regret what you can't relive
To love, forget, and forgive

And now that I'm all grown up
I've been through worse, but still it’s hard to trust
These footsteps leading through the dust
Nothing lasts; all things turn to rust

Can't count how many times
Through many mountains I've had to climb
I've said good-bye a thousand times
Blown away like scattered wind chimes

I'm packing up my life again
Life's so short – I remember when
We were all just children
But all things have their end...