One of the best family movies we’ve seen is the 2014 release of Big Hero 6 from Disney Animation Studios. The film tells the story of Hiro Hamada, a 14 year old robotics genius, who spends his free time competing in robot fights. After being exposed to behind the scenes production at his older brother’s university-run robotics center, Hiro is introduced to a healthcare robot named Baymax. For the remainder of the film, Hiro, Baymax and various others focus their energies on setting wrong things right and taking down those in high positions who use their power and ability to advance evil and destruction. Unfortunately, toward the end of the film, Baymax chooses to save Hiro and the subject of their rescue mission at the expense of his own life. In the final moments, Hiro discovers the original chip that created Baymax, which contains his entire personality and rebuilds him. One of the sweetest memories I have as a parent is holding my 6-year-old son on our way out of the movie theatre as he wept so hard that his body shook because he could not get over the fact that Baymax had died. After making sure that he understood the recreation process brought him back, it was clear that Conner was fixated on the fact that the original was gone. We encouraged him as best we could and I think he has recovered. It’s now one of his favorite movies…and mine as well.

Psalm 127:3 says, “Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord; the fruit of the womb is a reward.” Not that it matters but I couldn’t agree more! I have been a parent for almost ten years now and I can honestly say that becoming a mom or dad changes your life in more ways than anyone could ever imagine or calculate. I’ll never forget the moment that Christy and I discovered that our first child, Cayden, was on the way. Excitement doesn’t even begin to scratch the surface and she has certainly lived up to every expectation. Cayden is, without a doubt, the sweetest child in the world. Her heart is tender toward the Lord, her parents, her family and all those that she knows. I didn’t say she was perfect. No one is. But Christy and I can’t seem to figure out a way that we could make her better. She is who she is and God made her just that way. She has impacted the life of her parents in ways that she will never comprehend. We are better people today because of Cayden. And then there’s Conner. What do you say about Conner? Conner is a comedian. He loves life and he has certainly brought his share of excitement to all three of our lives. People will never know how many times life has come to a standstill because we could not stop laughing at something he said or did. He’s a dancer. He loves attention. He is probably one of the most joy-filled kids I have ever seen. Still, while he’s not perfect, we wouldn’t change a thing.

Just yesterday, my wife and I had the privilege of experiencing the beginning of a new life as we welcomed a new niece into the world. Interestingly enough, the new addition to our family was born in the same hospital as our little girl…same wing…same waiting room…same hallway. To say that we were flooded with memories of our beginning as parents is an understatement. It was almost surreal to experience the same event in the same building…only this time we were in a supporting role as Aunt and Uncle. It’s hard to believe that it’s been almost ten years.

Any parent worth their salt will tell you that serving as a Mom or Dad is absolutely a learning experience. When we become parents we don’t know anything, let alone everything. We learn as we go. We listen to God. We listen to our parents. We give it our best shot. Somehow things work out. We make mistakes. We try harder. We love. We nourish. We support. Still, we find ourselves feeling down about our shortcomings but hopeful about the future. Thankfully, God has promised that, as we look to Him, He will grant us wisdom, knowledge and understanding so that we can mature and become the parents that He has destined us to be. We should be so thankful for His power and instruction in our lives.

As I held my niece for the first time yesterday, what struck me more than anything is that I don’t remember my own two children being that small. Our memories have a way of fading through time. It’s hard to remember the hands that now manage an iPad being small enough to fit inside the circular portion of my own palm. It’s difficult to recall the mouths that now talk so fluently once being so unable to form words and build whole sentences. It’s strange to see the person so unable to feed themselves now make their way to the pantry for an afternoon snack. Time really does fly.

One of the things my wife and I have been guilty of since becoming parents is maintaining a desire to hold on to each phase and stage of the lives of our children. Babies are so precious and we long to keep them in that state. But the natural order of things always takes over and, all of a sudden, they’re two years old. At that point, we’re convinced that 2 is the perfect age for cuteness (terrible two’s aside). Before long, they’re 4 and 5 and, once again, we’ve somehow persuaded ourselves to bank on the fact that this age is the “perfect age.” Still, time marches on and we realize that it’s leaving us behind if we refuse to keep in step with it’s rhythm. We walk them through Pre-K, Kindergarten, immunization shots, snack time and sickness. Suddenly, we look around and wonder how their tiny hands have doubled in size. The once helpless infant now understands how to access Pandora radio and dance the night away. I am convinced that there is no greater joy on this planet for my children than sitting down for an episode of America’s Funniest Home Videos. They know how to access that show from our DVR all by themselves as well. It is certainly true that our children are in no position to make a living and provide a home for our family. But they’re more self-sufficient than I thought they’d be at this age and I’m sure that most parents would agree. It’s amazing how much they understand about life.

Please don’t mistake this article for perfect harmony between parent and child in our home. We experience the same difficulties and obstacles that every family unit deals with. There are attitudes, back-talking, refusal to listen, sub-par grades at school, and behavior problems. But, all in all, they’re our babies and, while we’ll continue to help them in any way that we can and teach them right from wrong, at the end of the day they are still our “heritage” and our “fruit.” The old saying certainly is true: no matter how old they are and no matter what they do, they will always be our babies. As parents, we understand the proper balance between extreme frustration when our kids are completely disrespectful and disobedient and that moment that our hearts melt when their little arms wrap around our necks and they say, “Daddy/Mama, I love you.”

My kids aren’t perfect but I can honestly say that I love who they have become. I see so much of my beautiful wife in my daughter. Cayden is one of the most considerate, loving, tender-hearted persons that I’ve ever known. Every day of my life, I see my Mom in my son. Conner becomes the life of the party wherever he goes. I love them more than words could ever adequately express. But yesterday was a reminder that time stops for no one. The sun rises and sets once again. Days turn into weeks, weeks into months, months into years and years into memories. They’re growing older and fast. We’re finding that, with each new phase, there are new challenges but there are also new joys. If Cayden were still 6 months old, I wouldn’t be able to carry on a conversation with her about her passion for music. She shared with me this past week that she has been writing some Christian songs. If Conner were still an infant, he would be unable to provide eerily accurate impersonations of our family members. His love for movies and comedy keeps us laughing.

Cayden is old enough now to help prepare dinner and complete projects around the house. Conner is now able to help with yard work and various tasks that he loves. With each new age and phase, there are new opportunities and joys. They’re becoming their own little people and we’re loving every minute of it. As days go by, we learn to appreciate new facets of parenting and, while we’re not likely to have a third child, we remember what it was like when they first came into our lives. Undoubtedly, I speak for my wife when I say that these two precious people have changed us forever. They’ve impacted us more than we could ever imagine but they’re growing up and becoming their own persons. They’re developing interests and focusing on what excites them and appeals to them. As a parent, seeing these changes take place, it’s hard to see them become more independent and mature as the years go by. But it’s an unmistakable part of life. They’re not who they used to be but they’re different in good ways. Each phase has its own benefits.

We’re well aware that they won’t remain children forever. We know the plan. They’ll continue to grow and become so independent that they’ll seek to begin their own pursuits and passions. They’ll select a path and begin their own careers, marriages, families and lives. But for now, they’re still our babies and we’re determined to enjoy them while they’re young, at home and still calling us Mama and Daddy. If only we had Hiro’s chip to reboot them and relive every second from the moment we met our two little heroes.