"They" tell you the time will fly by, that before you know it, he will be leaving home. Although I nod in agreement, such a reality seems, well...impossible. But "it's" here. The time for letting go. Almost 18 years later and my firstborn is preparing to leave home. And the question begs to be asked: "How did this happen?"
We still have 1 1/2 months to go, but I'm well aware that these days will speed by, just as the past 18 years have. Letting go is my job over the coming weeks. It smacked me right in the face a couple of weeks ago, when I recognized that I wasn't doing very well at those two little words. I was still doing a lot of hovering... smothering, fueled by the false assumption that he needs my mothering. Oh I know he still needs a mother, and he will always have a mother in me...a devoted, loving, encouraging, praying Mom. But mothering? He needs very little of that anymore. What he needs now is my support, my blessing, my listening heart...my"letting go". He's ready. It's time for me to be sure I'm ready.
Joyce Rupp pens some challenging, but timely words, "...when we learn how to say goodbye we truly learn how to say to ourselves and others: 'Go, God be with you. I entrust you to God..."
I add my own prayer to hers..."God...help me let go."
