Mamas*Little*Treasures: A Time to Let Go

If you are a mom, you will sooner or later have to let go of some of your dreams. That's just the way it is, but that's OK. When we are young moms, and our babies are bouncing and giggling, we just know that all of our tomorrows will be as bright as our babies smiles. And then as a bit of time goes by, we become exhausted from chasing toddlers around, trying to keep them alive and our homes from being destroyed. If we are also trying to work from home, which many of us are these days, we walk a fine line between "being there" for our little ones, and "being there" for our clients. It's truly a juggling act, but as moms, we are perfectly capable of spinning several plates at the same time and keeping most of them from crashing and smashing on the ground.

Then one day, all of a sudden, our babies are "big kids," learning about nouns and verbs, multiplication tables and geometry, the names of the planets and how to dissect a frog. Amazing! Whose kids are these, anyway? The last time I looked they were still toddling around, reaching for Mama and crying "Up, up, up, pease!" The first baby tooth falls out and where is that Tooth Fairy when you need him? Her? I guess the Tooth Fairy ran out of money and will have to reschedule for tomorrow night . . . . or next week, since mommy and daddy are both out of work and the mortgage is late. And hopefully the Tooth Fairy shows up before that grown-up tooth comes in or somehow the magic of childhood will be shattered.

From those moments of delightful silliness that characterizes our kids ("Mom, I just made up a new Chicken Dance!" . . . . really that JUST happened right here in my little home office) - to those frightening times when we are praying that they are safe, out there somewhere, somehow we begin to realize that we can't protect them forever. And that is a traumatic moment for every mom. That's just the way we are. Our nurturing instincts continually compell us to shield and protect our babies, but eventually we have to let go. Just a little bit. And give them some space. Even when it breaks our hearts.

And it is in those moments of anxiety that if we can just quiet our hearts and listen to the voice of God, He will remind us that He loves our babies so much more than we ever could. Which is hard for us to believe, but it is true. When we are fearful and uncertain; because sometimes children grow up and do things and go places that make us wonder where our REAL children have been hidden - because we think THIS certainly can't be MY child! - and we are confused, we must remember that He is still in control. He hears our prayers, He knows our hearts, and He truly loves them so much more than we can imagine. Let them go. At least a little bit, and trust our Heavenly Father to keep them.

In those moments we may only be able to pray, "Father, that she would just live through this," but that is enough. Can you let go a little bit? Can I let go a little bit? Faith and trust can be so difficult sometimes, but there are times when we have no choice, because they will go whether we "let" them or not. God will take good care of them. I know, trust me on this one!

3 Comments

This goes with my post this week "The Limits of Parents"...it is very hard. Some where I got the idea that if we got them to 18 then we were finished...or that is the worlds view...well that hasn't been. After 18 was harder than before...total trusting, praying and releasing.
Yes, God is faithful!!!

Posted by: Janette@Janette's Sage | July 16, 2010 at 10:29 PM