letting........ go

Letting go!
How soon does that lesson start?  When does it end?

More often than not, it seems hard to do - the letting go. And although it's an ongoing adventure, I can't say that it's become much easier for me, or that I have gotten any better doing it.  I fast forget that what I have - is only borrowed........even the presents given, I sense I have to hold loosely.

 Our daughter, is the most wonderful present God could ever place in our hands - but I have always known, that although she is our daughter, she is also God's.
And though she is the most tender spot in my heart, it has been so important that I do hold her loosely. Why?
                        -  so she could grow,
                                                         flap her wings
 and as time went on, venture out and test the water on her own.....away from us.
Does that mean I didn't love her as strongly as I could/should? Absolutely not!

It is a very hard balance to manage -
                        to love deeply and at the same time, be,
                                                                               if not ready, then willing to let go.

When we shipped our daughter off to Denmark, or 'the land of the Danes' as she likes to call it, it was one of many previous send offs -  filled with the same emotions; joy and sadness mingled together. Sadness in the knowledge that it would be a while before we would see each other again, but joy overflowing in the knowledge of  how wonderful this time would be for her - the maturing that was bound to happen, the stories yet to be told, and the unnumbered memories to be written on her heart.
                Letting go -
                          is it good for me? But of course.
                                                                        Is it good for her - hello!!

Does it feel as if she is slipping away through my hands or like I'm loosing her? No, not really, it feels more like she is moving to the next season or stage. Just like she moved from a nursing baby to a toddler, and on to kindergarten ....each transition demands adjustment, but it must be!
What is the alternative? - to "love" our children so very much that we stifle them? Keep them from growing into their own through each small departure from one stage to another?

              Don't we desire to raise up independent - or rather God-dependent children?
But if we micro manage/hover over them/ check and keep track of every move or appointment,
                       we not only contradict our desire, but make a clear statement of
                                  trusting neither our child nor God with their future.


Oh we - we the parental units - we want the very best for our offspring...... but in our loving efforts, let's not stand in the way of The One, who has prepared for them -
 "what no eye has seen, nor ear has heard, nor the heart of man imagined..." (1 Cor. 2:9)

-b