A year ago I stood in my driveway crying as my daughter and a friend of hers headed cross country where Sarah would be attending grad school in Portland, Oregon for two years. Her friend came back after a week. That is 3000 miles away! That is a long plane ride! I was the mom that cried every summer waiting for my child to start the next grade. THEN, by the time they were teenagers a little separation was ok. But 3000 miles away was breaking my heart!
It was so hard and I could still cry thinking that she went that far away not knowing anyone! She is social and has lots of friends and none were there. I was not there if she needed me. We have no family or friends there. Plane tickets are expensive so she wouldn't be coming home often and because it is about an 8 hour plane ride she had to have school and work off. Thankfully, we don't know what the future holds or I would have been upset about those things! I had tried to prepare myself for that day but knowing it was that far for two years broke my heart! I had no choice but to look for the blessings.
Yes, I can still cry but I am also a proud mother! Sarah always worked hard and set her goal and never got off that track. She wanted to go to a big city (like her Mom) and meet new people. I am thankful that she is independent. I prepared her to use her wings and that is what she is doing. God has sent her some good friends as we knew He would! Plane tickets are expensive but we are able to get them when we need them. God has brought good from bad giving us extra points from AA for their many flight cancellations this year! Sarah was blessed with a wonderful job that she did not think was possible there. Between work and school there is not much time to visit but when we do we make the most of it! And God gave me two girls and having Ivey in town is such a blessing!
If I did not have Christ in my life I do not know how I would have let Sarah go so far. But I know that God loves Sarah even more than I do and He will take care of her. I think He included this verse for us mothers, "Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you." Isaiah 49: 15 He knows everything. He sees the future. Jeremiah 29: 11, "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you future and a hope." He loves her and will never leave her. Hebrews 13: 5, "God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” And it does not matter where she goes. "I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go." Genesis 28: 15 Even Portland, Oregon, Jill! I know these verses. I have heard them plenty. Now I just have to trust them. Yep, a year later and I am having to remind myself at this time to trust God with my family.
I have been praying for several families who took their child off to college this weekend and they are finding their homes too quiet and empty. Our children are just on loan to us. They belong to God. And they have things they need to learn that they cannot learn living with Mom and/or dad. I have found comfort in Philippians 4: 19 this week, "And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus." And I also have comfort in the fact that she, like her mother and grandfather, has salt water in her blood! She will be back one day!
Thank you, God for taking care of our children no matter where they go! Help them remember Who and Whose they are! And help us parents trust in You!
I know that feeling Jill when Kim left Indiana and moved to Wilmington back in 1993. I felt like my heart was breaking but I know she is a child of God and He does watch out for her.