When the Children Have Grown Up

By Luther Bolenbarker

One of these days you’ll shout, “Why don’t you kids grow up and act your age?” And they will. Or, “You guys get outside and find yourselves something to do . . . and don’t slam the door.” And they will.

You’ll straighten up the boys’ bedroom neat and tidy. . . bumper stickers discarded… spread tucked and smoothed . . toys displayed on shelves. . . hangers in the closet … animals caged . . . And you’ll say out loud, “Now, I want it to stay this way.” And it will.

You’ll prepare a perfect dinner with a salad that hasn’t been picked to death and a cake with no finger traces in the icing and you’ll say, “Now there’s a meal for company.” And you will eat it alone. You’ll say, “I want complete privacy on the phone. No dancing around. No pantomimes. No demolition crews. . .Silence! Do you hear?” And you’ll get it.

No more plastic tablecloths stained with spaghetti. No more bedspreads to protect the sofa from damp bottoms. No more gates between the door to stumble over. No more clothes-pins under the sofa. No more playpens to arrange a room around. No more anxious nights under a vaporizer tent. No more sand on the sheets or cartoons on TV or comic books. No more iron-on patches; wet knotted shoe-strings; tight boots; or rubber bands for pony tails.

Imagine a lipstick with a point on it, or a work shop with all the tools in their proper place. No more babysitters. Washing only once a week. Seeing a steak instead of ground beef. Having a dress that’s not wrinkled or wet because of the baby on your lap. No PTA meetings. No car pools. No blaring radios. No hair washing at midnight.

Think about it. No more birth-day presents made out of toothpicks and paste. No more sloppy oatmeal or juicy kisses. No more tooth fairy. No giggles or pillow fights in the night. No knees to heal or boohoo’s to kiss and make well. No responsibility.

Only a silent voice keeps crying loudly, “Why don’t you grow up?!” And the silence echoes back, “I did!”

Moms and Dads, are you taking time to really enjoy your children? You should! Oh, how quickly they grow up and go. Will you do a good task in their rearing and up-bringing? “Bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” “Children, obey your parents in the Lord.”

Guardian of Truth XXXVII: No 21, p. 1
November 4, 1993