Letting Go
Posted in Daily Focus on Thursday, August 22, 2013
It happened today. I knew it was going to come someday, but I wasn’t quite ready. My five-year-old son and I were walking back from the barn after doing the evening chores. As we headed toward the house, I felt my hand reach for his to walk back together. In just that instant, my son’s hand pulled away, and I knew he was growing up and letting go.
As homeschool parents, we have even a greater temptation to hang on to our children when they begin to let go. Instead of looking for opportunities to launch our children into the world, our loving and protective nature wants to shelter them from all the hurts and injustices that will come their way. Instead of holding on so tightly, we must let go and allow them to place their hand into the hand of God. Psalm 37:24 says, “Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.”
Are you struggling with letting go? Maybe you feel like Mary, the mother of Jesus, when after she had spent three days looking for her lost 12-year-old son, she heard Him say, “How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business” (Luke 2:41-51)? You can trust God to take care of your child, even when you are not there to hold his hand. God knows his needs and will help your child just like He has done for you. “But I trusted in thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my God. My times are in thy hand” (Psalm 31:14-15a).
God, help me to place my child’s future in Your hands. Remind me of all You have done for me, so I may believe in Your loving care for him. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Comments(10 comments)
SARA L 08/22/2009 05:03:32
This reminds me of our four-year-old daughter asking me daily, "God will pick me up?" Our reply to her is, "Always." We are not certain where she learned the phrase - especially at such a young age - however, I know it always warms my heart to know she (and us for that matter) is on the path He wants her on.
It also reminds me that even with all the evil out there, as long as she remembers that "God will pick me up," when she stumbles and we are not there to catch her, He will be there for her, as He is for all of us. What a great reassurance!
MARY S 08/22/2011 06:40:59
Oh, how I needed to hear this today! Thank you!
TERESA G 08/22/2012 04:46:24
Right on time! God is always right on time. Thank you for this message.
TWILIGHT C 08/22/2012 04:57:43
Such an eye opening devotion and such truth in it as well. You are completely right. We have to remember our children belong to God. He trusted us enough to bless us with them to teach them and raise them up into his service. We do our part to the best of our ability and the holy spirits leading. And we have Gods promise according to Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it. It doesn\'t say that they may not stray from it along the way. But we have to stand on Gods promise that no matter what they go through they will return to Gods still small voice. But we as parents must always stand on Gods promises and never live in doubt and fear of what the word of God says. Have the faith of God and speak Gods promises over your children daily. And trust God that He will always hind them under his wing and take care of them as they grow up. Blessings!!!!
PATRICIA T 08/22/2012 05:13:20
So timely! I have been concerned about joining a co-op this year; worried about how my 6 children will handle it, be treated, whether this will be a negative influence in their lives, etc...
Thanks for the reminder that God will protect my children. :)
GORDEN M 08/22/2012 05:39:45
But you still shouldn\'t put them somewhere where they will be under a bad influence. It\'s like tempting God.
STEPH S 08/22/2012 05:57:19
You don\'t even know how bad I needed this today, but God did :) I have 4 children and my oldest son left two weeks ago to start Navy Boot camp and I am missing him so bad some days, that it hurts to breathe. And my youngest son will be leaving next week to go to school in the heart of NYC. And we are from a town of 1000 people, so quite a change. My heart aches for the emptiness that they will leave behind and these last few weeks and the next few weeks have been/ will be horribly rough. I keep remembering that God loves them more than I and this is what we have raised them for, to not keep them under my wing but to go out into the world. However, even though I know this, it doesn\'t make missing them any easier.
NORMA R 08/22/2012 06:04:42
I believe this was God speaking to me. As I wipe the tears and try to keep typing, my heart is full of joy! My 16 year old son is struggling with some issues that he has to handle himself. Some parts are a result of his neglect but the rest is personality differences with others on his team. He wants to be liked by all and doesn\'t understand why some just do not like him and say mean things to him. (Yes, even as homeschoolers we can have issues.) As Mom, my first instinct is to cover him and stop his pain! But as a Christ Follower,I know I need to coach him through this time, love on him, and encourage him to seek God\'s help through prayer and obedience to His word. I must say, this \"letting go\" part of parenting hurts. Yet another reason why I cannot do this without God\'s help!
Many thanks again for your words of truth and encouragement! Blessings
KIMBERLY L 08/22/2012 17:21:40
Oh,how ths touched myy heart!!!! My daughter( my baby) recently turned 13 and informed me ,as gently as she could, that she wasn\'t a kid anymore; also, my son will be 16 soon & loves to remind me of that. I\'ve been trying to loosen up my tight hold on them. It has taken A lot of praying & keeping my faith strong. It is so encouraging to know there are others out there just like me.
Cyndi Rosenberger 08/22/2013 13:45:38
Just what I needed to hear! I'm struggling with knowing how much to let go of my 12 year old who experienced abuse by a babysitter a few years ago. I just want to protect him and sometimes forget that I'm not doing it alone. God loves him too and is all powerful and able to protect him. Letting your children grow up is a real test of faith!