I'm working on a sermon on transitions. Our lives are full of them. We have transitions as our children grow, we have transitions in our marriages, with our pets, in our jobs, with our friends, in our neighborhoods, in our churches. Transitions are just a part of life. They are everywhere and for me, they are hard.
This weekend was a really hard transition for me. We sent my darling son off to Basic Training for the US Army. He'll be gone about 4 months. 4 months!! Kids growing up is a hard transition for mommas. We love our kids and want to see them grow up and start lives of their own but at the same time we want to keep them close to us! That whole letting go thing... it's tough.
I wasn't a fan of my son joining the military. I've already lived that live for the last 20 years and am kind of done but when he told his dad that he knew the military was where he is meant to be... well, it pulled at my heart strings again. I suddenly heard the words from Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for him declares the Lord, plans to prosper him and not to harm him, to give him a future with hope." (Loosely translated by me.)
It gave me comfort and peace. It is making the transition a little easier for me. Don't get me wrong! I cried. I bawled my eyes out. I see a photo of him, I walk by his bedroom, I see his favorite foods and I immediately think to myself, "Oh I miss him" as tears well up in my eyes. Then I remember how much he wants this. I remember that we raised him right and well and then I remember Proverbs 22:6 "Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it." (Same translation as above.)It all gives me a bit of peace. A bit of comfort and helps me to trust in God throughout these transitions of life. God's got this. He's on my side. He's on my son's side. He knows the plans, plans to prosper and give a future and hope. Sounds pretty good to me. Sounds pretty comforting too. I love that He is there to comfort us when we need it most. Those quiet words, verses he puts in our minds and on our hearts to help us through the tough transitions of life, well, it's pretty awesome. It's helps me deal.
What helps you deal with life's transitions?
Hi Sherri, oh I look at the picture of you hugging your son and my heart is right there with yours. No, my oldest son is only 16 and he is not leaving the house but I think us moms' hearts just knows this moment. Looking at the photo I 'knew' the love and all the feelings going with it, that you have for your son and suddenly I thought...that's how God loves us...even more because His is a perfect love. And that is how He loved Christ yet sent Him off to save us. Ah...precious precious. May God keep your son and bless him in his life, when he goes out and when he comes in. And may He bless you :-)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Lize. Yes, when I think of my love for my kids, I think of how much more God loves us. His love is amazing!
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