Chapters In Life

Snuggled in my overstuffed chair with the sun streaming through the window pane, I finished the last pages of a book I started months ago. Now I feel like I have lost a best friend. You see, I started this series nine years ago. When I found out this was the last book in the series, I was heartbroken; I read the book with patience, one chapter at a time. Every several weeks I picked up the book only to put it back down again, forcing the ending out even longer.
I ask myself, do we live our lives the same way? We are so excited in the beginning, racing through the books, not wanting to wait and see what happens. Then, as we realize our last chapters are drawing near, we slow down, refusing to acknowledge that the last chapter will soon be read.

I guess I am thinking about Daughter 1 and Daughter 2 as I write. Birth: book one. The toddler phase: book two. Now, I am drawing to the end of the series for Daughter 1. I look at her senior year of high school as her last book in the series – “Raising Daughter 1.” Every day, I turn another page in this last novel, dreading the final chapter. Whether or not I want to face the truth, the novel will end. However, a large part of me can’t wait to read about the dramatic conclusion!

But what brings me hope? There are many books; there are many equally good series. Yes, this series might be over, but knowing Daughter 1, I am assured of an amazing new series – fun, fatigue, frustration, excitement, adventure, tears, joy, disappointment and love. I guess I have a lot to look forward to!

Thank God for Daughter 2, for she has several books left in her series that will provide hours of reading - pages to turn and chapters to finish. But this time, I will be diligent in reading the chapters a little slower.

P.S. The series I just finished – Jan Karon’s Mitford Series.

We all love to read!!!