As my 30s pass in what feels like little more than an extended dream, I sometimes pine over the fact that I do not have any children. My sister’s four kids have been in town for six weeks, and three of them are returning with their mother back to Arizona in two days time. Noah will be staying on until Sunday. Having four little people around our family home has been good in so many ways. I am going to miss them more than I have in the past, I feel.
My sister’s children are terrific kids, and I might have thought her experience was unique were it not for the recent family reunion. A week and a half ago I was on the Washington coast, meeting my cousin Mark’s youngest child for the first time. Charlotte is perchance the happiest child I have ever seen. For her life is delight, delight, delight. Most of our family met Charlotte for the first time at the reunion. In every instance her joy was contagious.
I am certain that her energy has rubbed off on the rest of her immediate family. Mark and Alexis seem very happy. I celebrate the joy these people bring with them as they enter the world. One day I hope to have my own little joys running around, screaming as they chase eachother, getting into everything, reconfiguring my sleep. I was thankful not to have children as I entered the mission field. The time is wrong, and I need to find a wife first besides. So, for now, it is enough that my sister has kids and that nearly all of my married friends at church have or are having children. God’s plan and timing are perfect.
albaniacalling 