The light slowly creeps back into our days with little fanfare. Each day extending a minute or so until dinner is, once again, accompanied by the sun. Those extra moments of heat nibble away at the heavy blanket of snow which cloaks our corner of the world. Some fog and a rain shower continue the elemental assault on frozen water but winter, she is stubborn and freezing and brings new snow despite the growing resentment from some of its recipients. Slowly, the ice wears away toward bare ground. Ever so slowly.
Your mind can rush ahead and imagine what will be...Days of Spring. Light, warmth, growth. But change plods along unaware and patient.
This morning I found the oldest, awake in his bed, flipping through photo albums. He chronicled his journey in relation to each of his siblings' births. He is old enough to place himself within the context of time, growing, amongst his family and friends. Watching them grow. Imperceptible by day, undeniable by season, they change. He views each picture, thoughtfully. Not quite sentimental about the past and not particularly anxious about the future, I try and learn some of this practicality from him.
I find it exponentially more difficult to live in the present while feeling responsible for so many futures. Then I'll see something reminding me that time and change come together now and, if I can appreciate that, the future will be just fine.
