Letting Go

It’s been 3 weeks since we dropped off our firstborn at college. I’ve found myself walking by her room and stopping at the door- looking at the eerily neat and tidy space, with a few sweet reminders of her presence- some favorite books on her shelves, the desk she spent hours at studying, and her well-loved stuffed dog. Sometimes I still think she’s about to walk in the door. Like she was at an overnight with a friend or just out running her crazy busy schedule.

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I wonder whether I taught her the most important lessons before she left home- prioritizing time with the Lord, building friendships, working hard, making time to rest and getting that stain out of her clothes. Will she remember to call her siblings and grandparents (and me)? Will she faithfully serve in a local church?

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Taking our daughter to college is a significant way that God teaches us to trust Him. I’m no longer there to see every moment of her day, to see if I need to remind her to grab a snack on her way out or a coat because it might rain. Instead I need to trust that all the moments I can’t see, God can. He is with her every step of the way. He knows her schedule, her budding friendships and her heart. And He can be trusted.

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Letting go of our children is a continual process. Some of my friends are just taking their firstborn to preschool. And even dropping them off for a couple hours seems like a monumental moment. Or maybe your kids are entering the middle school years, and it’s scary to think about the new array of influences and temptations as they spend more time away from home. Wherever you are in your parenting journey, God’s grace is sufficient. For every lesson we forgot to teach or fear that enters our mind, the Lord reminds us of His constant care and presence (Psalm 23:1).

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He is faithful to watch over our kids when we cannot. And He will tenderly shepherd our hearts as we entrust our children to Him.

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