On Clichés

Recently I was chatting with a friend about those little signs that we see in homes. You know the ones: they say things like “Bloom Where You’re Planted,” or “This Too Shall Pass.”

The thing is, she said, I used to roll my eyes at how cheesy those sayings were. When you’re a teenager and you know everything, you think they’re so dumb. And then, you become an adult…and it turns out they’re true.

Bloom Where You’re Planted? It’s difficult a lot of the time. Expectations are different than what materializes. It might be good to have a little reminder to keep trying.

This Too Shall Pass? Every season has an end. The really whiny season that your toddler is in — that won’t last forever. Take a breath and enjoy that for a minute. But also — the cuddling at bedtime? That won’t last forever, either. This, too, shall pass.

Have you ever heard someone say “There’s a first time for everything”? Sometimes this means simply “wow, I’ve never seen that before,” but other times it means, “go take a chance.” Everybody starts somewhere. If you’re scared to do something for the first time, it doesn’t mean you’ll fail. It just means — it’s your first time. Few things go well the first time. Just jump in and start trying.

Have you ever heard someone say “There’s a last time for everything”?

This concept sometimes comes up in discussions about parenting. There will be a last time that your child holds your hand to cross the street, but you won’t know it when it happens. But one day, you’ll realize that they don’t do that anymore. There will be a last time they all ride in the car with you.

(Sometimes David and I force all of our giant children into a single vehicle, all the while shouting, “COME ON GUYS — IT’S JUST LIKE OLD TIMES.” No one enjoys this very much.)

Nashville recording artist and producer Ben Shive composed a song entitled “There’s a Last Time for Everything” after he lost a good friend to cancer. As he attended his buddy’s funeral, the thought came to Ben that one day, there will be a last funeral. Nobody in attendance will know it, but they will be at the last one. There won’t be any more after that.

There will be a last trip to the florist to pick out the casket piece.

There will be a last receiving line.

There will be a last recessional piece of music.

The old things will pass away. The new will come. And there won’t be any more funerals after that.

You’re gonna wake up soon

In your lonely room

To the sound of a singing bird

Throw the curtain back

To find your bag’s already packed

And the cab is at the curb

Then like a bad dream

Unreal in the morning light

So will the world seem

When you see it in the mirror for the last time

Cause there is a last time

There’s a last time for everything