Okay. One of these days you'll shout, "Why don't you kids grow up and act your age." And they will. Or, "You guys get outside and find yourselves something to do...and don't slam the door." And they won't.

You'll straighten up the boy's bedroom neat and tidy...bumper stickers discarded...spread tucked and smooth...toys displayed on the shelves. Hanger in the closet. Animals caged. And you'll say out loud, "Now I want it to stay this way." And it will.

You'll prepare a perfect dinner with a salad that hasn't been picked to death and a cake with no finger traces in the icing and you'll say, "Now, there's a meal for company." And you'll eat it alone.

You'll say, "I want complete privacy on the phone. No dancing around. No pantomimes. No demolition crews. Silence. Do you hear?" And you'll have it.

No more plastic tablecloths stained with spaghetti. No more bedspreads to protect the sofa from damp bottoms. No more gates to stumble over at the top of the basement steps. No more clothespins under the sofa. No more playpens to arrange a room around.

No more anxious nights under a vaporizer tent. No more sand on the sheets. No more iron-on patches; wet, knitted shoestrings; tight boots, or rubber bands for ponytails.

Imagine. A lipstick with a point on it. No baby sitter for New Year's Eve. Washing only once a week. Seeing a steak that isn't ground. Having your teeth cleaned without a baby on your lap. No PTA meetings. No car pools. No blaring radios. No one washing her hair at 11 o'clock at night. Having your own roll of scotch tape.

Think about it. No more Christmas presents out of toothpicks and Elmer's glue. No more sloppy oatmeal kisses. No more tooth fairy. No giggles in the dark. No knees to blow. No responsibility.

Only a voice crying, "Why don't you grow up," and the silence echoing, "I did."

May God give you grace and mercy, these few short years, to love your kids into a personal relationship with HIM.