Chronos vs. Kairos

Recently I have been hearing and reading a lot about the value of differentiating between chronos (sequential time) and kairos (a moment of indeterminate time in which something happens).  What the special something is depends on who is using the word.  While chronos is quantitative, kairos has a qualitative nature.

This week has seemed unusually long in a chronological sense.  We have all four been sick, Brad was gone most of the week (while sick), and we have been yearning for the weekend when we could finally spend time together and hopefully all feel a little better.  All of the little unpleasant moments from the week have already blurred away (chronos) but the moment I just experienced will linger, suspended, indefinitely (kairos).

As I tuck Kate in each night, I sing to her just before I leave her room:  "You are my sunshine, my only sunshine, you make me happy when skies are gray.  You'll never know, Kate, how much I love you.  Please don't take my sunshine away."  After the last note tonight, she touched my arm and said, "Mom, you know no one will ever take your sunshine away.  I will hold onto you forever." Kairos.