Almost there. . .

Last week in the pre-school chapel service a four-year-old shared with me that she can swim all the way across the pool, AND, when she can do it four times in a row, she will be allowed in the "big kids" part of the pool. "I'm almost there" she told me with a joyful expression on her face.

My eighth grade confirmation students are almost there too. Almost to the end of confirmation classes. . . almost to the end of middle school. . . almost to high school. . .

Seniors awaiting graduation are almost there. . .

A young mother told me with heartfelt pride that we are "done with daytime diapers and sometimes dry overnight." Almost there. . .

Anticipation is a gift to be cherished and celebrated. Sometimes, as parents, we tend to be a bit too realistic with our children. We say, "Well remember, it took you three weeks to be able to swim across once, you probably aren't going to be in the deep end before summer." We do this because we want to spare them disappointment. We're protecting them from a part of life they can't anticipate. What would have happened if, as they learned to walk, we said "Just wait another month or two little one, you're going to fall down a lot before you can walk. Don't try now." We didn't do that; instead we encouraged them - "Come on honey, you're almost there. . ."

Time and experience will teach children soon enough that there are some things they will never be able to achieve. Trying to spare them small disappointments may ultimately cause them to rein in their dreams. They may pursue only what they are certain they can achieve. Their THERE will not be the place of their dreams, it will be the reality of their self-limited choices.

Jesus said, "And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? Do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself." Let's not teach our kids to worry, or to diminish their dreams. Children don't become; they are. And WHERE they are is almost there. . .

Let the Creator of the waters carry you, and your children. You're almost there. . .