God's Got This
As I watched my daughter, Sarah, disappear into the airport this morning I could no longer hold it together. A mix of emotions swept over me. When Mike came back out to the car neither of us could speak. When he took my hand to comfort me, I lost it. We talked about how hard it was last night, and every time, when Mom (Honey) tells my girls bye. We came home and went back to bed at 5:30am. But all I could do was toss and turn. I knew it was time to get up, have a good cry and talk to God. And I needed to write to work through this. Isaiah 41: 10, "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
It is always hard to say goodbye especially when you know it will be months before you are together again. But I am very proud that Sarah is independent and is following her dream - even if it is 3000 miles away. I remember wanting to get out of Wilmington and live in the city! I had been to school with the same people all my life and I wanted to get away. I think it is the best thing I did. I was gone for 16 years and could not wait to get back.....and bring my family. As I told Sarah bye, I reminded her when she has doubts about something on our minds to keep saying, "I trust you God. Thank You for the good You will bring out of this."
Ivey left last week for Banff, a resort town in Alberta, Canada, and will be back next week. It is on my bucket list for a summer visit but after seeing her pictures I am thinking if I don't freeze to death I may have to go both times! I am so excited for Ivey to experience this! When we prayed with her before she left I asked God, among all the fun she and her friends would be having, that His beautiful creation would take her breath away. That she would be reminded of all the good things God gives us. That she would feel close to Him when she was in His creation. Romans 1: 20, "For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse."
As I have this uneasy feeling this morning, God reminds me that He is in control. Nothing has changed since we were all having fun at dinner last night and laughing. Hebrews 13: 8, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." If I can trust Him with my salvation - all eternity - then He can take care of this. And we are blessed to be able to go back and forth visiting. She is blessed to be able to move 3000 miles away and follow her dreams. I just have to think about all of the blessings. I need to be still and be with Him. Psalm 46: 10, "He says, 'Be still, and know that I am God...'"
Most of all I thank God that my girls do know who He is and how they were raised. They know they are blessed - even when times are hard. I thank God for family. And I thank God that He uses the family unit to help me understand my parent/child relationship with Him. He loves us so much and wants the best for us. And He sees the whole big picture! He hurts with us. He is thrilled when we love and appreciate His creation. But He wants to be first in our lives and He wants us to trust Him. Even when it is about our children. For years, I have reminded myself that He loves them even more than I do! He loves me even more than my mom does!
As I always say, "it always comes back to trust." One of the most prominent themes of scripture is to trust in God, especially in times when it becomes difficult to do so. Proverbs 3: 5, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding..." Thank You, God! You've got this! Thank You for your peace that only you can give! Philippians 4: 7, "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." I feel better! Psalm 31: 14, "'But I trust in you, Lord;' I say, 'You are my God.'”