Kids grow up fast.
The Oldest turned 11 last month. The Younger will turn 8 in 4 days. I am still not sure if we are doing the right things but cell phones, Wii's (and the games needed for the system) and MP3 players are on the gift list. (I heard that groan!)
The giving of the cell phone was a pretty funny moment. I called the Older's phone while it sat in the gift bag and he looked totally perplexed. The Younger knew exactly what was up and he began to cry, "It's not fair!"
Then, before Older could even check out the neat features, came the lecture on what NOT to do: don't answer the phone if you don't see the name, don't text too much, don't download, don't have it on at school.
Don't. Don't. Don't.
The same scenario was played with the giving of the Wii (actually a double gift from the Grandparents) and there are other surprises in store of the Younger's big day.
I guess in this day and age these kinds of electronic gifts are the thing. What is amazing to me is how connected our children are, or will be, at an early age. The Wii system can actually find and work on my wireless router and the boys will eventually be able to send their Mii's (avatars which represent who them in the games on-screen) to other Wii's and one can have a Mii parade.
Don't feel bad. I am lost myself in this Wii world.
As for a cell phone at 11, this is not much of a shocker. The Younger has children in his class who have cell phones. Families are scattered here and there and given how scary the world is for children and parents, a cell phone can be a bit of a security blanket.
I am just amazed at how fast life is and how that affects every level of our being and the being of our loved ones. To put all of this in perspective our Younger was born during the Spurs first championship run when they played at the Alamo Dome. In his short lifetime, technology and connectedness has really blossomed!
I remember watching one Sunday night when I was about their age a show which spoke prophetically about a time when computers would be in every household and they would help us do our work so well that our work weeks would shorten to 30 hours.
Well, they got it partially right.
It seems that the pace of life is fast and getting faster. And that means every facet of life is cruising along at light speed and one day your little tyke is text messaging his second grade classmate to get the link on the internet to finish their homework assignment on-line.
Whew!
Thank God for summer time to slow down a bit. It is not how it used to be but it is certainly a relief to slow down regardless.
One of the blessings of a bit of slow down time is the opportunity to focus on the encouraging words that form the Word of God for our lives. There is a wonderful prayer “For the Good Use of Leisure” in the Book of Common Prayer (page 825).
Here it is: O God, in the course of this busy life, give us times of refreshment and peace; and grant that we may so use our leisure to rebuild our bodies and renew our minds, that our spirits may be opened to the goodness of your creation; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
It is encouraging to me that God wants to allow us time to have leisure. It is encouraging to me that God intends us to use this leisure time in holy ways to “rebuild our bodies and renew our minds” for as “our spirits [are] opened to the goodness of [God’s] creation” we might be given the grace to see opportunities for growth in our discipleship.
Kid's grow up fast. Families grow older quickly. Time disappears in an instant.
Take time today to slow down and enjoy the gifts given by God to you.
