The heart of a mother never ceases to love, never ceases to feel concern for her children and never ceases the desire to protect them. This mama's heart has felt the aches and pains of letting go over the last year! Our oldest graduated from high school last June and departed on the college journey in Fall of 2012. He's home this summer and again, I'm trying to learn the lessons of "letting go". We're both going through the growing pains of a college student wanting to be an adult and at the same time, learning the art of responsibility and respect of parental guidance. Not the easiest on either of us, but a necessary part of growing up - both into adulthood and parenthood!
Earlier this week, our third child left for a summer serving opportunity with our church to serve in inner-city Philadelphia. I could tell she was a little nervous about leaving home for the week, but she was also looking forward to seeing how God used her and her team to serve others. I know we're both looking forward to seeing each other in two days.
I am so in love with each of our four children. God has truly blessed me and my husband with wonderful kids. We have our moments of course, but we love each other and they have a love for God and others that I admire and I know I never had at their ages!
But yesterday, we said goodbye to our seventeen year old daughter. She was selected to participate in an month long leadership development program designed to immerse them for a month in team-building, personal challenges, serving and God's Word, so that they can go out into the world and make a difference in the churches and communities of our world! To be a difference-maker in the lives of others and to live out the life that God has called them to.
Wow, was this difficult. I really don't like goodbyes....especially with loved ones. But yesterday was a real challenge for me because we were sending our daughter off on a journey that was different from any other. The parents of each student received more information yesterday than each student would know ahead of time about their trip, and it's going to be a very challenging growth experience for each child. Here comes the mother's desire to protect her children. It was harder than I thought to leave her, seven hours away from home, to begin a journey that sounded challenging for just about anyone. I don't like to think about the situations she will be in because I know she may be scared or feel lonely. I want to protect her and make sure she's safe and warm, and sleeping in a comfortable bed at night. Unfortunately, this is the "letting go" part that each parent comes face to face with at some point along the way. I need to rely on and trust in the God that made it possible for her to go on this journey in the first place.
My daughter knew even before she completed the application for this opportunity, that this may be part of God's divine plan for this point in her life. I believe that's why she was a bit hesitant to even apply. She had a fear of the unknown and being accepted. Which meant she was supposed to go.
It's crazy how many of us in life don't go after opportunities that open before us because of fear of the unknown. The thought of our lives changing, for better or worse, send us into freeze mode. We put off having difficult conversations with people in our lives because we're afraid of how it's going to turn out or the pain it could cause. We don't try for a job, activity or sport because we fear we'll be laughed at or worse, refused the opportunity to at least try. We don't trust God to provide or protect us in our day to day lives because we can't fathom the love He has for us and the forgiveness He freely gives us!
The tear-filled goodbyes came and went yesterday, but this teary-eyed mom still needs to blot her eyes here and there as she thinks about her daughter on this very special journey. The inability to communicate will be difficult. The wonder each day of how she's doing and what she's learning will not go away until she arrives home. But the pride and admiration for our daughter will last forever. She chose to apply and she accepted the challenge. She didn't do it without question or concern. She didn't do it without feeling her summer would fly by and that she'd miss being with her family and friends. She did it because she felt God's calling. She allowed her faith to overcome any fear she was feeling. And thus the faith lessons learned by a seventeen year old:
1. Trust that God has a divine plan for your life.
2. Believe that God will provide for you and protect you - even in unknown circumstances, far from home.
3. Don't let the fears of this world and the people around you place you into "freeze-mode", making you unable to follow God and serve others.
Life's short and God is good. If you're reading this and you're a parent, I pray that you encourage your kids to branch out into the world, try knew things and love on them through it all. If you're someone who finds it difficult to trust that God actually does have a plan for your life, make time for Him and pray that He shows you which journey is best for you. And if you're a student - don't allow fear to win over faith! Take on new challenges, get out of your comfort zone so God can teach and grow you into the leader you're called to be. Be a difference-maker, live to serve others and honor God. These are things we will never regret!
"For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11
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