Letting go...

Oh man. I have a whirlwind of thoughts on this subject today.

Letting go of adult children - for me - has turned out to be tough. I always said that when the time came it wouldn't be a problem for me. I lied.

But now listen. Even with that admission, in my defense, I did spend over two decades raising, nurturing and pouring myself into them. It consumed (with my blessing) all of my time, my energy, my love and practically every ounce of my concern for over 20 years. And all of a sudden, or so it seems, I'm faced with learning to balance my love and concern while resisting the age old desire known as parental control.

Michael leaves to live in another state today. It is such a bittersweet relocation. For me anyway. No - that's another lie. It's bittersweet for us all. While we all wish that things could stay the same and we could all live in a commune as just one big happy family, we can't. It was never intended to be that way.

I realize his decision to relocate was not made lightly. And truth be known, today's departure will be no easier on him that it will be on the rest of us. But his Dad helped put it into perspective last night . . . sometimes we overlook or simply forget that God knows what He’s doing. God knows what is best for us AND our children. He can see the end result. We can’t. All the questions, all the doubts, all the uncertainties and all the delays—all the things that make us ask “why”— one day will all be clear to us in the light of God’s love.

While looking at things through a different lens may not completely take the sting away, it does ease it. Looks like we'll be planning a vacation soon :)

Train up a child in the way he should go;
even when he is old he will not depart from it. (Proverbs 22:6)

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; (Proverbs 3:5)