Things I Wish I’d Known Before We Became ParentsSample

The ‘Long Days and Short Years’ of Parenting

On day one of Creation, God made day and night (Genesis 1:1-5).

Just as there was a beginning to all of creation, families also have their beginnings. We go from two people to two people with a child. Life is never the same thereafter.

For starters, our days and nights are no longer ours to do with as we please. They are now not only filled with our other responsibilities but also with the joys and challenges of parenting. And, while the joys are many, the challenges remind us on a daily basis that raising a child is not always so easy. 

When our firstborn was a toddler, an older mom observed me in a stressful parenting moment. She lovingly said to me, “These are long days and short years. Enjoy them the best you can. You’ll wish you could get these times back one day.” I knew immediately what she meant by “long days.” 

Feeding, cleaning, diapering, comforting, playing, entertaining, safety-proofing…parents do these and the many other tasks of parenting numerous times each day. For most of us, this is all pretty draining, even when we’ve had a “good night’s sleep.”

God, of course, knew the light was good (Genesis 1:4). We need the light and daytime to accomplish our various duties. And, all-knowing as He is, He also knew we needed the rest of nighttime. Nighttime, for parents, is that amazing time of day when our little ones are tuckered out and sleeping peacefully. After a crazy busy day, they are finally still and quiet. We watch and listen to them breathe, and we thank God for another day with them.

Then, if we’re lucky, those precious children of ours sleep through the night (or at least they do so more and more over time). We, too, finally get the rest we’ve been needing all day.

Yes, these are long days and short years. My husband, Stephen, and I somewhat truth-in-jest tell people, “We go to bed tired, and we wake up tired.” But we wouldn’t change a thing. We are so grateful for these three lives that God has entrusted us with. They truly are blessings!

This devotional was written by Dr. Shannon Warden, a busy mom and wife herself, as well as author, teacher, and family counselor. For more information about Shannon and her ministry, visit www.shannonwarden.com. Shannon and Dr. Gary Chapman recently co-wrote Things I Wish I’d Known Before We Became Parents (Northfield, 2016). For more information on this practical parenting resource, visit www.5lovelanguages.com.