Solomon wisely wrote in Ecclesiastes:
“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:
A time to be born and a time to die,
A time to plant and a time to uproot,
A time to kill and a time to heal,
A time to tear down and a time to build,
A time to weep and a time to laugh,
A time to mourn and a time to dance,
A time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
A time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
A time to search and a time to give up,
A time to keep and a time to throw away,
A time to tear and a time to mend,
A time to be silent and a time to speak,
A time to love and a time to hate,
A time for war and a time for peace.” -Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
It’s graduation season. There are a lot of excited students in my classroom. For all of those excited students, there are one or two emotionally heartbroken parents. You may be one of them. My heart is a little sore, myself.
All of these feelings that God inspired Solomon to write are acceptable feelings. We are given permission to feel this way-in its specific given time. I think about how fast this life goes, and how much harder I feel like the gas pedal has been pressed since I had kids. I wanted so bad to rush the “baby can’t tell me his/her needs” stage and the potty training stage. Then, I saw my friends at church with teenagers getting their licenses. They get ready to go to bed at night, but they lay there awake until their child comes through the door; their peace comes from knowing they are safe. I’m not ready for that stage. Brake. BRAKE!!
It’s okay to feel sad. You may feel that that is your baby that is being thrown into the world. However, you’re wrong. That’s not your baby. That’s your mission, but that’s God’s baby. God gave you that child to raise, to grow up in His sight, and to teach to love and respect. And survive according to God’s plan. You did your job-he’s ready; she’s ready.
My child isn’t ready. I mean, she’s four. Does she think she’s ready? Oh yeah. She told me yesterday she’s gonna marry her brother and start looking for a house. But, I know that my job is not complete. I also know how quick the time is ticking. If I’m not focusing every moment I have with my children, making sure that my actions are setting a Godly example, my situations are handled in a way Jesus himself would handle them, and teaching them by no other source but the Truth, then I’m going to run out of time. I will certainly feel horrible the day my child walks across the stage and switches her tassel if I let time get away from me.
Have you ever noticed how much more delicious food is when you eat slow and savor every bite? (Side note, you get full quicker that way and lose some lb’s!) The benefits are great. It’s the same way savoring the moments with your children. My husband got me some wonderful gifts for our anniversary, but my kiddos did too! I watched them carefully select the best weeds…um…flowers from our yard to give to me for my anniversary yesterday. They were so excited to give them to me. Moment savored. Insanely beneficial.
My vocal jazz choir was the guest performing group to the Shoals Chamber Singers, our community choir, in their concert last night. They were phenomenal, and we were so grateful for the opportunity to perform alongside the most talented people in our community. One of my students got the opportunity to conduct the whole ensemble. I’ve had this student for five years. I watched him grow into the godly, well respected, and crazy talented young man he is today. He’s pursuing a career in music education-so obviously I’m proud. I watched him conduct that orchestra like a professional. You would never know he was 18! He commanded attention in such a humble way. That’s a tough quality to master. As he conducted, I thought of his parents. How proud they must be to know he’s ready. They have done an outstanding job raising him, and he’s going to carry out his own mission now.
What is your mission today? Have you found it yet? Are you in the process of accomplishing it?
1 Peter 4:10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.
Isaiah 6:8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”
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