We need to savor ordinary family life at home and at church. It will quickly be over.
If you haven’t noticed the pastor’s family is growing up. Our oldest, Allison, is wrapping up her junior year and Mary Beth, our youngest is polishing off second grade. Mary Beth wasn’t even speaking in sentences when we signed on as “bricks in the valley.”
Jamie and I sometimes talk about what we’ll miss the most when our children are grown. We’ve been able to travel as a family, the highlight of which was our sabbatical in Switzerland. It was wonderful, but it isn’t what we’ll miss the most when the youngest is grown up.
I think what we’ll miss the most is the ordinary sound of family around the house. We will miss having dinner together. I’ll miss telling the children to quit eating like Assyrians or to pass the food before feeding their own faces. I already miss wondering why Christopher was dressed up like a cowboy to play a board game with Benjamin, as in the picture to the right. (I will point out that he wasn’t actually “packing heat” since his holster is empty, though I’m sure his sidearm wasn’t far away).
I will really miss eavesdropping on a little girl while she lectures her dolls and when Allison would fall asleep playing with her dolls and Winnie the Pooh.
I think it’s the same deal at church. What I’ll miss the most isn’t the major projects that we’ve done together, but rather the ordinary beauty of family life as a church. I will miss standing around the corner while you are excited to see one another at church. 
I will really miss doing benedictions. So many times when I give the benediction, I sweep my eyes across the congregation – – picture what is going on in your worlds – – and pray.
Jamie and I will miss standing at the back door shaking hands and hugging people.
It may sound strange to say, but I will miss going to a funeral and seeing a buffet of excellent food prepared for a hurting family. (Fortunately, most of you have better manners than our kids at home so I don’t have to rebuke you for eating like Caananites).
In church, we tend to sit in the same places and I will miss being able to go into the sanctuary, even when it’s empty, close my eyes, and picture what it would be like if you were all actually there.
I will miss studying the biblical text while I consider what is going on in your world. I will miss getting down on my knees by the south window in my study while I pray for you all.
And I will miss a lot more. But, thankfully, our children aren’t yet grown, and my time as a brick is not yet over, so we have the opportunity to more consciously savor the joy of ordinary life for another couple days, or for a week or so, or as many years as God gives us.
I miss so many things! As I thought about that I had to be thankful that I had been blessed with so many people and things to miss.
I do remember lying in bed knowing that it was the last time all six of my children would be sleeping at home with it being their home.
That made me a little teary. Somehow I never expected you to become so sentimental. 🙂 Read this twice; it may be the only time I ever admit in writing that you have a wonderful way with words…beautifully written.
MD – – I did go through it a couple of times. May even print it. You’re just bitter about the nickel.
When I was much younger, my father told me how time would fly as we got older, which seemed impossible since it was taking forever to get through school. He told me it was hard to see me leave home and move to a state to live in that was a days drive away. It wasn’t until a few years ago that I realized how so very right my dad was. Once the boys could take care of them selves and especially hit high school, time just took off. We all still get together 2-3 times a year, but most of the time the house is void of the busyness of family. Spending time together is so meaningful now, but can’t fill the void that is left most of the time. It’s so exciting when a son calls and says “can ypu help me?”. It is such a joy to have good relationships with sons and daughters in law. All that is possible because of the time spent at home, growing up and just living together through good times and not so good times. Thanks for your thoughts Chris, that prompted me to write more than I have since college.