everything comes to pass..

nothing comes to stay, they say.

These were my thoughts as I left the Baruch College Early Learning Center a few months ago.

everything comes to pass. nothing comes to stay.

While finishing my undergrad at Baruch College, Mia attended the Early Learning Center from 2.4 to 4 years. They were such beautiful years. Mia learned how to form sentences, follow directions and share there. It was such a nurturing environment, for both her and her hot mess mom. They were patient whenever I was late or was missing her updated medical report or when I would forget to prepare her lunch. I will forever be grateful for her time there.

A few months ago, Mia and I decided to pay them a visit. We took the 4 train all the way to 14th street and walked the 4 blocks to the center. But this time it was different.

3 years ago, I would have to prepare the night before making the trip. Finish all my homework, choose outfits, prepare Mia’s lunch, clean the stroller and leave it by the door. I’d also have to pack my bag with all the materials one takes to college plus activities for Mia for the train ride, snacks, baby wipes and her lunch. We’d have to climb a million steps to the 4 train, another climb at Union Square and another one at the center which was about 2 flights up from ground level. As if that wasn’t enough, the Early Learning Center was a 6 block walk from the College.

Sometimes Mia was in a great mood. Sometimes she wasn’t. Sometimes it was raining. Sometimes it was cold. The trains were always packed. My bag was always heavy. Sometimes Mia’s cuteness would get her a seat. Other times, people were too tired to care. One thing it always was though was hard. By the time I made it to class, I was exhausted. The trips home would be even harder. But a few months ago when I went to visit

everything was different.

Mia dressed herself this time. She reminded herself to use the bathroom before we left the house. She walked up the stairs to the train without my help. She got a seat on the train and took her book out of the bag that she prepared for herself. We both read our books the whole way there. She climbed the steps at Union Square and we walked the 4 blocks to the center without a single complaint from her. And that’s when it hit me.

everything comes to pass. nothing comes to stay.

3 years ago, I used to cry a lot. I’d have little energy left to do homework or chores. I dreaded the next day having to do everything again. I could not see past my situation. I could not see past the current circumstance. Looking back, I am now able to see that nothing stays the same forever if we are working towards a change or working towards something new. Had I reminded myself of this back then, I would have enjoyed those trips with my baby. I’ll never get those back.

But today I am wiser and I know better. I now know to be true that every single season in our lives is able to bring value to our lives and change us for the better, if we allow it.

I heard a message by Dharius Daniels that said sometimes God wraps our blessings in burdens and we cannot get to the blessing without getting through that burden. I am clinging to this word. That no matter how dark it gets, brighter days are on the horizon. I just have to remind myself that everything comes to pass. nothing comes to stay.

xoxo