They were beautiful;
they looked all grown up;
I realized how grown up they really are;
I cried.
I met Brittany and Ashley six years ago. They were 11 years old. They weren't even in youth group yet when I joined the Antioch gang. I knew them a little bit though. They were just little girls when I met them.
Finally they were old enough to join the youth group. I remember the first year they went to camp with us. Ashley had never been away from her parents before and I was their chaperon in Georgia. I can't go into the details, but we really bonded on that trip in our own special ways.
I watched them grow, go through middle school, enter high school, turn 16, get their driver's license, start driving and going on dates. Finally their prom day was upon us and they invited me to come see them off. It was official. They were grown up.
They were running a little behind so they were off before I could even get my picture made with them. I knew I would regret letting this moment pass by without getting a picture with my girls on the most important night of their life thus far. When Ashley's parents dropped me back off at my car, I took off to the restaurant to meet up with the girls. I got to talk with them a little more and get some pictures until I knew I had to leave. It was their night. I couldn't go to prom with them, and besides, I had to go to work. It was official--I was an old lady.
It seemed like just yesterday that I was going to prom until I realized that was 6 and 7 years ago. I was their age when I met them. How did they grow up yet I hadn't aged a day??? I texted my prom date who also knows the girls. I said to Justin, "Our little girls are going to prom tonight." He replied, "...I feel old." For the record, he's older than I am ;) But, I, too, felt old. I fought back tears the entire drive to work. I knew things would never be the same again. C'est la vie.
Of course, I realize if it was this hard for me to send my friends to prom, I can't imagine how I will deal when it's my own children going to prom someday. I guess I have two decades or so to prepare myself for that moment. Hopefully they'll still be prescribing xanax then.
Anyway, I hate dealing with the fact that I'm growing up and the world around me is constantly growing and changing. Lord, meet me where I am and help me deal with the changes going on all around me. As I continue to grow and move forward, guide my steps, dear Jesus.
