Forced To Grow Up

The future can be a scary place. You can't know what will happen, how you're life will turn out or who you will become. Sometimes it can be difficult to face the future and easier to live in the security of the past. Our past is something that is certain and comfortable, but the future is unknown. Many people in life fear growing up, just as the boy in "To Everything There Is a Season" does. He sees his older siblings maturing and moving on but is struggling to do so himself.

Christmas has always been my favourite holiday. I will admit though, that it was more enjoyable as a kid. I wouldn't be able to sleep at night in anticipation for Christmas day and when it came, I couldn't wait to tear open all the presents from "Santa". Just like the boy in this story, it was hard to give that up. Especially the first year as a non-believer in Santa Claus. It isn't just Christmas either. There are many things in childhood that I am envious of now. As children, we are so oblivious to many of the bad things in life. The boy talks of his father's illness and it is apparent that he isn't doing well. His younger siblings don't realize just how sick their father is. However, the boy sees his older brother's concern and is starting to see the reality of it himself. My grandfather died in November. He was the best grandfather I could ask for, in spite of the fact that he had been sick for a long time. When I was a child, like the children in this story, I didn't realize how sick he really was. To me, he would live forever and always be here with me. As I got older, it started to hit me more and I started noticing his aging. While the father in this story tells the boy "we should hang on to good things in our lives as long as we are able", as you grow up you can better appreciate those good things of your past, even if you can't still have them.

There is a point where you can no longer "hang on to the good things". At the end of this story, the boy joins his parents in helping place "Santa's gifts" under the tree. The fact that he is no longer considered a kid, like his younger siblings, hits him hard. He soon realizes though that there are new good things to come, while he observes his parents and older siblings enjoying getting the presents ready. His father has some wise words "Every man moves on but there is no need to grieve. He leaves good things behind".