Four Fingers

I had the chance to help at church today with the little Sunbeams. In my church the little Sunbeams are the wee ones who just got out of Nursery. In Nursery they got to play with toys and have snacks. As Sunbeams they get to join the older kids with singing time, sharing time and they go to their own little classroom for a Sunday school lesson. Let me just say, I actually broke out in a sweat today. I was not prepared to take 6 little ones to go potty (in pairs-not ALL at once, are you crazy?). Luckily for me it went well. As for the lesson, well...they half paid attention, climbed on chairs, and each other, we had one lick another and just your general 4 year old squirminess. Which I find hilarious. I often observe my 4 year old, because I just honestly wish I knew what went on in his little brain. Why is looking under your chair more interesting than a picture of Jesus?
My Elijah is a Sunbeam. He is 4. When asked their age today, they each proudly held up their chubby little fingers. Four chubby fingers. So sweet. We talked about baptism and the teacher explained to them that in just four more fingers, (it seemed easier for them to grasp the concept of how many more fingers, instead of YEARS) they get to be baptized. It dawned on me that my baby...my baby! ...will be baptized in 4 years. It hardly seems fair that they grow so fast.
Earlier this evening I held his tiny hand, as I often do, and he showed me his 4 fingers. I thought of what each of those 4 fingers represented and felt a pang of melancholy. His first year of life...all his firsts, and seconds. The terrible twos. Potty training and pre-school. Honestly, I didn't mean to suddenly turn what was supposed to be a fun post about these little ones into something sappy and emotional, but as I started writing it became clear that it is what's really on my mind. And in my heart. So hug your babies tight, relish those milestones, and cherish those precious moments, big and small, because one minute they are these tiny beings you hold in your arms and the next they are showing you their 4 little fingers just to remind you how fleeting it all is.