I was unloading my cart at the grocery store checkout what I noticed the woman in line behind me. She was smiling as I filled the conveyor belt with produce and cereal, noodles and meats, milk and eggs, and dozens of other items.
“I don’t envy you having to put that all away when you get home,” she said.
“It’s true,” I said, smiling back “And the funny thing is that I think I have enough for a week, but I’ll be back in two days shopping for more.”
I told her that we have two sons—and she told me she does, too. Her sons are in their 60s now, she said, with one living not too far away and one in Florida. They have grown children of their own, and she has great-grandchildren, too.
“But I remember those wonderful days with my boys in the house,” she said. “Cherish that time.”
Sometimes when people offer that sentiment, it comes across as preachy. I remember getting advice like that when we were in the thick of toddler chaos, and it felt like an order or an assignment I could never live out. But the way this woman offered her words, it was almost as if she was giving that advice to her former self—a little wistful, but mostly grateful, and a gentle reminder to appreciate what I’ve been given.
I assured her that I do cherish this time—and that I can see the days slipping by more quickly every day. I told her how I love the teenage years and how grateful I am for this time, especially knowing that it’s flying past. There is nothing like the feeling of having your whole family home, under one roof.
I might marvel at all the groceries I buy and how quickly they vanish, but I am thankful for all of it. I know every day is a gift. I know nothing is guaranteed. And I try to remember that even when life can be hectic or heavy or overwhelming.
There’s something about this dark time of year, when the cold is so bitter and the earth almost feels uninhabitable, that makes me want to wish January away a little bit. But that exchange with a mother who has turned more pages in the book of motherhood than I have set me straight.
She’s right. Life isn’t always easy, but I don’t want it to go too quickly. I should cherish this time—and I do. But I could hold onto it more intentionally. I could live with more gratitude. And I could do more to enrich the time we have. Each of us has the chance to make life just a little better for someone else and to bring a little more light and joy and faith to the world.
“Let us strive to make the present moment beautiful!” said St. Francis de Sales, whose feast day we celebrated on Jan. 24.
During this Jubilee Year of Hope, may we find joy in living in the present, even when we feel surrounded by darkness. And may we help others live with hope, savoring the gift of time, and trusting that God holds us—and the past, present, and future—in his loving hands.
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