Dear Mom,
I feel your pain, I understand your grief. I was there not long ago. I watch as you post pictures on Facebook...pictures of a car packed way too full, pictures of a nervous 18 year old standing in their empty dorm room, and that one last picture of them right before you drive away. I understand the bittersweet emotions you are experiencing. It feels wrong to have your baby move out, yet at the same time it feels right. This is a milestone you have been preparing for since you welcomed your baby into this world.
This emotion is not new to God, He knew we moms (and dads) would struggle with this change. He knew that sometimes the changing of seasons in our life can be difficult. He wants us to lean on Him, He wants us to shift our parenting from being hands on to being on call. We will always be their parent, but we must change how we parent. There is a giving up of control, there is a shift to being on our knees more. Our baby has always been in God's hands, but when he moves out that fact seems more clear to us then ever before.
This time of change can be tough, it's ok to cry, it's ok to laugh, it's ok to feel whatever you are feeling. As hard as it is to believe right now, your relationship with your baby will become richer, deeper and better. All three of my babies are out of the house, I hated dropping each one of them off at school. I hated missing them, I hated change....but now I get the joy of watching them establish their own families. It is a joy unlike any I ever imagined...to see them love their spouses and thrive as the people God made them to be...wow...it's awesome!
Know that I am praying for you sweet mom. Change is hard, but it leads to some wonderful new beginnings...
Three years ago our family looked like this...
Today it looks like this....I am thankful for these changes in my family!
There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens...
Ecclesiastes 3:1
** check out some other takes on the word change...
