Parenting Is For the Byrds!

It isn’t often that I turn my music to the “oldies” channel, but the other day running errands for my son, Trent’s graduation, I turned to the station.  The song Turn, Turn, Turn by Pete Seeger performed by the Byrds came on.  I was struck with the dichotomy in the song’s lyrics.

“To everything turn, turn, turn. There is a season turn, turn, turn. And a time to every purpose Under heaven A time to gain, a time to lose A time to rend, a time to sew A time for love, a time for hate A time for peace, I swear it’s not too late.”

Funny, I thought, this is what parenthood is all about…the dichotomy of first and lasts.  

“To everything there is a season”

We hold our child’s sweet little hands in ours, making promises to always be there for them.   We spend a lifetime building up our children, pouring into them with our entire heart.  Then one day…you are left watching them chart their own course and you realize, they have let go. 

“A time to build up, A time to break down.”

As we “break down” the need to be the ‘daily parent,’ the joy that we may feel from seeing our child grow into an adult, may intermingle with sadness.  The passage of time and the closing of chapters.  

If I was to add my own lyrics to Bob Seeger’s prolific song, perhaps it would be something like this. 

“A time to hold, a time to let go A time for joy, a time for sadness A time to celebrate, a time to mourn” 

As a stay home mom for 20+ years, there is celebration of my life’s work, but also a mourning process that I needed to go through as my kids move on.   The realization that my purpose needed to be redefined.  I needed to be redefined.  “And a time to every purpose Under heaven”.  My 20 year purpose as a stay home mom had served its intended time. 

Are you living your purpose? Do you know what your purpose is? Have you given in to the the thought that “its too late?”

As parents, young and old, working and stay home… what if we added and believed this verse…. 

“A time for you A time for me, I swear it’s not too late.” 

I coach parents every day who are searching …  Parents looking for their purpose.   

I assure you, you have all that you will ever need right inside of you.  You just need the tools and the mindset to harness it.  

I believe in you mom.  Live on purpose and with purpose.  

In looking into the lyrics, I discovered something very special about this song.  This song comes from the King James version of Ecclesiastes 3:1-8. I had no idea!