Oh, what a difference four years makes.
When I look at this picture, I can’t help the tiny shiver of panic, someplace in my gut: where’s Sam and Ellie? Who has Nate?
No, this was taken before all that. Back when we had one nicely behaved two-year-old.
We also apparently needed a life since we had nothing better to do but stare at her.
This is like the anti-picture of our lives now.
For one thing, the hill we’re standing on–the perspective it provides–is metaphoric. That clear perspective, of watching our child, pondering her actions, wondering what they mean, discussing who she is.
That’s the kind of perspective that comes with free time. And not to beat the we’re-so-busy horse to death here, but we’re definitely in a hectic season.
Perspective: that’s what sleepless nights and crying babies and too many hours rushing to put on shoes and pile into the minivan have stolen from us.
We’re tired and a bit overwhelmed. It’s hard to observe our kids, to see who they are, to appreciate what’s happening. We’re too in the middle of it.
I’m happy for those strangers in this picture who got a chance to do that–to take a moment to stand back reflect.
I hope to meet them again some day.
