Parenting: One of God’s Greatest Callings
As the mother of two beautiful children, ages 21 and 16, I have discovered both the pains and the pleasures of parenting. Almost three years ago, we proudly and tearfully sent our oldest child off to college. And unless you have personally experienced this sort of parental separation, it is hard to wrap your mind around the sense of heartache and sadness that can come from this inevitable life-changing event. Although, no life has been lost, there is a definite shift in the way you once lived. A shift that can send shockwaves through a once unwavering home.
Late in her senior year of high school, she confidently announced that God was calling her to Australia. We’d spent 18 years preparing our daughter for this day. We guided, encouraged, advised, counseled, directed; always with unconditional love. Although at times, I am certain, to her it did not feel that way. Through many ups and downs, twist and turns, highs and lows, we did everything in our power to to build her confidence in who God created her to be. As most parents do, we tried our best to equip her to be able to “go out to change the world!”
There was one slight oversight, however. We had given little thought to the required necessity of emotionally preparing ourselves. Yes, our heads knew that this day would come; unfortunately our heads never bothered to consult with our hearts. The day her daddy boarded a plane with her to fly over 9000 miles away and get her situated at college, I was left beyond overwhelmed. Let’s just say that the mound of emotions that enveloped me when I walked into her empty room for the first time were heart-rending. Immediately, I was hit by an intense avalanche of hopelessness. My baby girl was gone! I felt as if I was walking around under a dark cloud of emptiness for the first three or four months after she left. Although I tried to be brave and hold it together for my teenage son, the invisible hole remained.
It was late fall in 2011, when the Lord in all His kindness, grace and mercy reminded me of the words my daughter spoke when she had fearlessly announced God’s calling on her life. There was an excitement I felt for her that day when she obediently surrendered her future to Him. After all, that had been our prayer all those years.
At that moment, I realized that although she was no longer with us as a little girl, she was now a young woman in the best place possible. She was directly in His will, protected by His hand and guided by His Holy Spirit. Although not all at once, my hole began to slowly fill as I understood that through the years, by giving her roots and wings based on God’s truth, by fulfilling our calling as parents, she had been inspired to answer hers. What more could a parent ask for!
From time to time, if I allow myself, a tinge of sadness will creep in as I ponder on what once was. Just as quickly, He reminds me of His Word and promise . Our children are only with us for a season, and His plans are to prosper us, and not harm us. He promises to give us all a hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11). Yes, parenting can prove to be a complicated responsibility, but one with indescribable rewards.
For now, I still have work to do. My son is with us for his junior and senior year of high school. The great privilege of parenting is still in full force, and despite the unavoidable sadness that comes with it, there is nothing in the world I would trade it for.
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