Be still

"Life is a Highway" is Manning's favorite song EVER.  It is hilarious to hear him sing it. Loud. Usually half the wrong words. Absolutely precious.
Today was Manning's day. I was flipping through radio channels as we drove home from school and his beloved tune came on. He was so excited! But during the entire first verse he pleaded with me to play it again when it went off this time. I tried to explain that we were listening to the radio not a CD; therefore, I could not replay the song. He reminded me that we do, indeed, have a CD with this song on it. I reminded him that we were almost at our house and we could listen to it later. It kept on. Finally, I said, "Manning, just enjoy it now."
He was missing out on enjoying his favorite song of all time (imagine a 4 year old's enthusiasm) simply because he was worrying about when he would get to hear it again. He was so focused on what was happening next that he couldn't appreciate the moment.
As soon as the words escaped my lips, I mentally froze. God had me in His grip. He (again) was using my babies to teach me. How many times do I waste opportunities today because I am too busy planning tomorrow?
We want to graduate college, we want to get married, then buy house, and have kids. It is the natural progression of life. But sometimes, I fear, we don't enjoy the right now enough because we are too busy "longing" for the next stage. Time flies. It seems like only yesterday we were bringing McCann home from the hospital. But that warm, February day was 11 months ago. My newborn is almost a toddler.
I am praying that this year I will be aware of capturing these days, holding onto my babies, being peaceful right where I am. It won't be like this for long. In a blink of an eye, our babies will be grown and we will miss these days of little sleep, constant loudness, and arguing siblings.
"Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." Psalm 46:10