Tis the Season of Send Offs

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Tis the Season of Send Offs

Tis the season of send offs

From first day bus waves

To fall semester move in days

Learning to let go

Helps us all to grow

In oh so many ways

We cling so tightly because we care so deeply, and if that’s true, for me and you, just imagine how tightly God is clinging to us all as we learn this lesson of letting go.

His grip is greater than ours.

His love is deeper than ours.

His ways are higher than ours.

And that’s more than enough to keep them close as we let them go.

His plan will continue to work out, play out, and stand out center stage against the backdrop of our surrender.

So what do you say we trade the white knuckles of clenched fists for the white flag of surrendering our will to His?

We can let go

Knowing He never will

He’ll hold them fast

And keep them close

Working out His Will

Behind the scenes

Bringing greater things

From firsts to lasts

And all the in betweens

We can trust Him in the send offs

Every moment, milestone, and memory made

Learning as we let go

Knowing we all will grow

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Grace Upon Grace

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Grace Upon Grace

“For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.” (John‬ ‭1‬:‭16‬, ‭ESV‬‬)

Grace upon grace

Not just enough

But more than enough

And endless supply

That extends beyond this space and time

This morning, this verse deeply resonated with me as I find myself (still) in the midst of this season of letting go.

I’ve experienced so much of God’s grace in this sacred space.

And this is what He spoke to my heart, and I will pass on to yours, because maybe you need to hear it, too…

Give up (trying to control it all) but don’t give up (trusting He’s in control of it all).

It is possible to give them up to Him without giving up on them or on Him.

“There’s no way to be a perfect parent, but a million ways to be a good one.” — Jill Churchill

Look for just one of those million today, and do that one well.

Have a good cry (sometimes you can’t stop the tears from flowing), but then wipe the tears and carry on, because a mother’s work is never done (and with God’s help you and your kids won’t stop growing).

Empty nest does not mean emptiness.

Life can be lived to the fullest at every age and life stage when our cup is filled by Christ alone.

Yes, the fullest and best days are ahead, because we’re doing what we’re supposed to do, and our children are doing it, too.

They are not ours. They are lent to us to give to Him over and over again. It’s in that kind of giving up we receive the strength we need to truly let go.

Embrace the grace in the sacred space

Over and over again

Yesterday, today, and tomorrow

Because each new day

Holds new mercies

More grace

Grace upon grace

“For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.” (John‬ ‭1‬:‭16‬, ‭ESV‬‬)

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We Can Let Go Because He Never Will

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We Can Let Go Because He Never Will

To all the mamas out there feeling all the feels of May, this is for you…

On this first day of May, I woke up thinking about all the “May things.” Things that touch the heart, trigger the emotions, and for me, turn on the tears.

In our family, we have so much to celebrate, a few moves to make, and lots of life to keep living in the midst of it all.

May, for me, and maybe for you too, is a reminder that these children of mine are not really mine at all. They are His and have been all along.

May is a month of transition. School wraps up as summer ramps up. Ceremonies and celebrations fill the calendar page, and Pomp and Circumstance plays as they march across the stage.

And each stage, and each May, has meaning and purpose as we walk with our children through the stage of life they’re currently in, from childhood to adulthood, learning to embrace with grace the most important lesson of motherhood…

We can let go because He never will.

I heard a song recently that reminded me of the truth we must cling to as we let go of them.

And ironically, the lyrics liken letting go to giving birth.

Mama, I know letting go is hard, but I also know trusting God is good. It’s good for them. It’s good for us. God’s got us all, and He won’t let us go. It’s a lesson we all have to learn, and these May days are some of the best teachers.

We may be letting go of them, but He will never let go of any of us.

{“I Won’t Let You Go” by Switchfoot}

🎶When it feels like surgery

and it burns like third degree

And you wonder, what is it worth?

When your inside’s breakin’ in

and you feel that ache again

And you wonder, what’s giving birth?

If you could let the pain of the past go

of your soul

None of this is in your control

If you could only let your guard down

If you could learn to trust me somehow

Well, I swear that I won’t let you go

If you could only let go your doubts

If you could just believe in me now

I swear that I won’t let you go

I won’t let you go

When your fear is currency

and you feel that urgency

You want peace,

but there’s war in your head

Well, maybe that’s where life is born

when our façades are torn

Pain gives birth to the promise ahead🎶

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Heavenly Hoarder

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Heavenly Hoarder

All this packing and purging recently has me thinking about Kingdom things. Where should we be “storing up” our treasures? Here on earth or there in Heaven?

Jesus, in the Sermon on the Mount, answers this question for us…

“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.” (Matthew 6:19-21, NLT)

And then Paul urges Timothy to act and teach others to act similarly, concluding his charge in 1 Timothy, much like Jesus did in Matthew, with the reason why…

“Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others. By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life.” (1 Timothy 6:17-19, NLT)

Storing up treasures in a worldly economy will not only one day end, but will continue to disappoint and fall short of true joy and fulfillment because storing up treasures on earth is unreliable, unwise, an unproductive in light of Eternity.

Storing up treasures in a heavenly economy will last forever, and will always please and supersede any earthly goal or dream because storing up treasures in Heaven is building on the best foundation for a blessed future and joy that goes beyond anything this world can offer.

So, if you’re anything like me, and hold on to earthly things a little too tightly, let’s get our priorities in order, and become a Heavenly hoarder!

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Launching Well Requires Letting Go

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Launching Well Requires Letting Go

Launching well requires letting go.

Launching number three of four this year, and one thing I’m learning in the launching is that in order to do it well you must let them go.

Just like an arrow is drawn back in a bow, that arrow will never hit the target unless the archer lets it go.

I know the tendency and the tension of motherhood because I have felt it for 22 years now. The grip is tight and the drawback is precise. We want to launch them well.

We want those arrows to go exactly where God intends, and yet when the moment comes to release the grip and let them go, we want to cling a little tighter and hold on a little longer, but if we do, they will never do all that He has planned.

You may be dropping them off at college today, but you will be lifting them up in prayer always.

Prayer is powerful. Words matter, so wield them well. Pray them. Say them. I promise they will stay with them, and they’ll remember them when they need them most.

More than your two cents, they need your encouragement. You’ve raised them well. You’ve taught them all the things. Now let them go so they can grow.

Loosen that grip of control, and allow God’s grace to take hold — of them, of you, and every new thing you each will pursue.

They love you. They need you. Just not as often or as much. And that’s the way God designed it to be.

We raise them to release them. It’s all a part of the process, and it’s beautiful (but sometimes we don’t see the beauty until after the ugly cry…and that’s ok, too).

I’m praying for you. I covet your prayers for me and my arrows, too.

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