Fleeting moments teach valuable holiday lesson

When my boys were younger, we purchased the entire lot of Little People Christmas sets. For years, my family room was laced with the many pieces that provided countless hours of entertainment for each and every one of my kids.

As the years went on, I grew to despise these sets. Every night before I went to bed, I was tasked with the puzzle of trying to piece them back together. Every morning, the pieces were once again sprawled across my family room floor.

There were years that I would intentionally leave them sitting in the back of my attic, but somehow my husband would find them and he would bring them down for all to enjoy.

Everyone seemed to find such happiness with them — everyone except for me.

This year, as the Little People made their way down from the attic, my husband began to carry them to the garage door. He announced that it was time to give them away for other small children to enjoy.

I couldn’t catch my breath.

At that very moment, I was sucker-punched with a very valuable lesson: these moments we have with our children are fleeting. They will not be here forever.

It doesn’t matter if your tree is perfect, if your house is clean, or if the cards get out on time.

In the end, it is about looking into the eyes of our children, and truly engaging in the magic that is surrounding this very moment.

It is about being present and building traditions and memories that will last a lifetime.

In the blink of an eye, the magic will surely start to fade.

At the base of my fireplace, there are three Little People Christmas sets on display. When I woke up this morning, the pieces were out of order.

This afternoon, they are still sprawled across my family room floor. I don’t plan on picking them up any time soon.