Marbles in a Jar

There is a jar on the shelf in my office.  There are 677 marbles in the jar.

A few weeks ago I saw a facebook post from a friend of mine.  She had filled two jars with marbles.  One marble for each week she would have with each of her two children before they turned 18.  She created the jars of marbles because she wanted a visual way to mark the time she had with her children-- the time she and her husband has to mold and shape them as people.  Each week they will take one out of each jar, marking the time as it passes.

I was interested and intrigued by the idea.  Of course I had to research it first.  My friend got the idea from the Orange Conference she recently attended and in my research I discovered a book by Reggie Joiner called "Losing your Marbles."  The premise is that from birth until a child's 18th birthday parents have about 936 weeks with their children.  The challenge is for parents to use those weeks and make each one count. 

We are losing our marbles one week at a time...

Brooks' preschool graduation was today.  I realize that the time is moving fast and in a few months he will start Kindergarten-so I made a jar of my own.  I calculated that there are 677 weeks that I will have my son Brooks in my home from the first day of Kindergarten until his high school graduation.

When Larry and I started out on the parenting journey folks kept saying things like “don't blink, they will be grown before you know it.” “Enjoy it while you can.” “They grow so fast.”

As the mom of two young children- a 5yr old and a 2 year old and a third expected in November there are more moments than not that I feel like I am “losing my marbles.” There are also moments when I think "can they grow up a little faster?"  or "is there someplace I can send them right this minute?" 

Those are usually the moments of  legos all over my floor, temper tantrums, a spoiled sippy cup discovered under the couch, and wrestling eye drops into pink eyes.

When I have those less than perfect parenting moments, I am always reminded of the time- passing quickly.  The weight of all those marbles in a jar and how they will too soon be gone. I need to do better and get my act together!

From the day my son enters Kindergarten until he graduates from high school it is 677 weeks. All those marbles in the jar are a visual reminder that we are charged with making each week count with our children.  There will be three jars in our home and one day they will all be empty.

Knowing the number of days or weeks my children have with us, at home, will hopefully make my parenting more intentional. 

I am also counting on it to help me in those moments when I am “losing my marbles” to have some perspective.  

I can take each week as it come (or each day/minute) and do my best that week.  

I pray daily for the beautiful and bright little people God has entrusted us with- that our weeks will be filled with joy, wonder, and God’s grace.