Reconcile Magazine March 2019

And pictures from dances with awkward boys
And I’d probably be planning a college graduation
And dreaming about grandbabies that came
From the right situation
And if practice makes perfect I’d be a much better cook
I’d have spent far fewer hours with my nose in a book
And more time in playgrounds and playing Candy Land
And listening to god-awful teenage boy bands
I’d remember making birthday cakes and watching cartoons
And wishing on stars and blowing up balloons
If you were here I’d have memories of
Skinned knees and braces and tubes of lipstick
And talks about haircuts and short skirts and
Staying up all night when you were sick
And monkey bars and first cars and oh my God
First dates and first kisses and the first car’s near misses
And geometry tests and camping trips and
A tiny hand in mine and coloring in the lines
Somewhere there would have been costumes of
Xena the Warrior Princess and Hello Kitty and rodeo stars and
Parallel bars and a tiny tutu – of course in pink shell
There would have been more doggies and kittens and
Those bunnies I always wanted myself
And tummy aches from Halloween candy
And Sesame street jingles that haunt you forever
and the sound of a million promises that never
would you ever do that again
and sleepovers and surprise parties and blowing bubbles
and first pimples and training bras
and oohs and aahs over farm animals at the fair
and tears over you cutting your own hair
and the sound of temper tantrums and tiny demanding
and being thankful I wasn’t the last one left standing…
By Sheila Compatriotte, Author of God's Marriage Manual: Keeping Holiness, Joy and Intimacy By Doing It
God's Way Click Here for more information.
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