THROUGH A MOTHER'S EYES Chasing Sunsets B Y D I A N E C H E V E L D AY O F F
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e all have those times when we are content with where we are and what we are doing, but then we are asked to step away from our own comfort to fulfill our children’s desires. When my girls were young, my husband was quick to drop his routine for our children, but that selfless service took me a little while to learn. It doesn’t matter what age our children may be, we are still their parents, and it will always be important to share special moments with them. And as they grow older, if we aren’t intentional with our time, we may miss those precious moments and memories altogether. You know the old saying, “Take time to smell the roses”? If we apply this, it can help eliminate all doubt or regret of our own short-sightedness. One of our most precious times as a family started with one daughter’s request to chase the sunset. Her desire soon grew to our whole family running mad, chasing the sunset with intentional effort. We have raced through some pretty harsh areas to get to a point to see the display in the sky, and I have to admit, there are times I wonder why we did. Yet, deep down, I knew why I did, and remembering the why will keep you going regardless of circumstances or even the outcome.
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Some sunsets we chased were incredibly vibrant, with every color and tone imaginable, and others were just so-so. But all had indescribable beauty. Sometimes, we stood in awe, taking in the majestic display and snapping picture after picture. Other times, we sat in silence, enjoying the calmness and peacefulness exuding from the sky at the end of the day. Almost every time, we were reminded to stay until the very end as the vibrant colors intensified and changed, transforming the sky and the landscape by its reflection. Isaiah 30:18 tells us the importance of waiting on God: "Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait on Him!" (NIV) Just like a sunset, our circumstances can change so quickly. Too often, we give up, leaving and then realizing we missed the best part. Our fun adventure of chasing the sunset started a tradition, which, in turn, created thought-provoking and lasting memories. Kids don’t care if dinner is getting cold on the table, nor should we. The time we carve out from our day to give to our children helps them see so much more than what meets the eye. Recently, one of
