I don't know about you, but I've heard the saying "The best is yet to come" my whole life. I've always wondered, how do they know? What if right now is the best time that will ever be? How can anyone be sure that the future holds good instead of bad?
Maybe it's the instant gratification culture we live in, or just human nature but it's so easy to believe that today is the best, or worst, or most fun, or most insane, or any other type day there ever was or ever will be. Marriage cannot get better than the day you got married. Parenthood cannot be better than the baby stage, or the toddler stage or whatever stage you're in now.
A few years ago life was great. I was a stay at home mom. My husband got a promotion to manager. My children were young...but not too young that I wasn't sleeping. I had my three babies at home with me all day and nothing outside influenced them if I didn't choose it. My marriage was great. My bank account was stable and I was living the life. Life was great...the best it had ever been and "ever would be". But then life...
My kids were growing up and rolling their eyes more. My son was not loving being homeschooled...I was not loving homeschooling. And then my husband came home and announced he lost his job. My life fell apart! I was hopeless and helpless. I was sad and mad and scared. Life could never get better. And, in the eyes of some, it didn't. For a long time. We struggled. Life was rough. But we learned. I learned how to trust God. I learned how to find blessings in the regular, small, every day. I learned how to ask for help, or accept it. My children learned that life was more than things.
And life now is better than before....
If you asked me 6 years ago, I never would have said not having a baby would be my favorite stage of life. But it is. 2 years ago I wouldn't have said having all 3 of my babies in school would be my favorite stage of life. But it is. And if you ask me now, I would never say having a middle schooler will be my favorite stage of life....but ask me again in 3 years and I'll let you know.
Yes, maybe I've rocked my baby to sleep for the last time. Maybe I've gone on my last spontaneous getaway with my husband. Maybe I'll never again be a stay at home mom. But that doesn't mean my life is over and tomorrow won't be better than today. I would never choose to go back and be newly married, if my option was losing what I have with my husband now. I am much more loved and love much more today than almost 11 years ago. And guess what...the best IS yet to come.
Maybe that doesn't look like what I would imagine, but I would never be where I am today if I had chosen my life.
So kiss your husband goodnight. Cuddle your child in their sickness. Say "I love you". Go to lunch with your friends. Live today but look forward to tomorrow. Because the best is coming!
