Where Did the Time Go?

Where did the time go? Time is just flying by! How did we get to this stage in our lives?

Are these phrases you hear yourself saying often?

Ecclesiastes 3:1 teaches, "For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven." The interesting thing about time is whatever stage of life you are currently in, you are constantly either looking back on a memory of a time past or looking forward to a goal not yet accomplished.

Your preschool years may have been completed decades ago and have no relevance to your present season of life. Some of you reading this may have just graduated high school and may not have a single memory of your preschool years (even though they were only 15 years ago!). Others might be in the midst of parenting the most challenging and difficult 3-year-old that ever walked the planet and you just want this season to end.

You were once a preschooler. Allow yourself to sit and ponder that for a moment. Yes, there was a time in your life that you didn't know your colours or ABCs. You didn't know how to use scissors, zip up your coat, or stand in a line. You had to be taught how to share, wait your turn, and how to apologize and make it right with someone. These skills are taught at young age and then developed over the course of your life. You don't become a successful adult by accident. We require different people in our lives, in different seasons, to help mentor, teach, and encourage our growth and development.

Many of us are wrapping up our school year either as a student, teacher, or parent. If you personally don't fall into any of these categories, allow yourself to reflect on the memories you have from the different seasons of your life. Pray for those who helped bring you to your current season of life. Ecclesiastes 3:2 goes on to say, "a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted." Sometimes you are the seed being planted, other times you are harvesting the reward of your efforts. In other seasons, you are the farmer who is planting the seeds. Each of these seasons comes with its own rewards, challenges, and experiences. A wise woman once told me, "Don't will away any stage of life. Earnestly try to stay present in each season and reflect on the lessons learned and blessings that surround you daily."

As First Steps Preschool completes another school year, I am filled with many different emotions. Personally, a season is ending for our family. All of our children will be attending elementary school in September. We sang "good-bye until next time" to our preschool season. God has brought us through yet another season of life.

Whatever season of life you are in, I pray that you will find a lesson learned, reflect on blessings of provision, and know the love of our Saviour.