by Janet H. Brown

The air has turned crisp and cold as the wind blew at my back. Today was my daughter's last soccer game. I'll be able to rest my weary self and not rise so early in the morning to get somewhere that we should have been five minutes ago.

It seems as if we rush to get to that somewhere for someone and once we get there, what? I agree with all the parents who rush from one place to another for their children that it would be grand to take a slower pace, smell the flowers on the way, appreciate the beautiful array of colors as the sun sets, and just listen to one another without doing something else at the same time.

To tell you the truth, how do I manage that? I tell myself no, that I like myself, and no one is going to push me over the edge. Ha! Ha!

To tell you the truth, I love watching my daughter and son play soccer or any sport. And it doesn't have to be a sport, just to be able to see them accomplish anything they do with so much gusto. I cheer them on at a game. I smile as I see them on stage for a concert. My heart cries out when they stand up for God. I'll label myself as a Mom and I'll continue to go where I need to. But for now I'll sleep in.