There comes a time for every parent
to let go of each precious child. Symbolically, the act of letting go says to
the world, "I have raised this human being to the best of my
ability."
I have rocked him gently in my arms
until he fell asleep, I have wiped his tears, bandaged his skinned knees, and
held his hand when he was sick or afraid. When I was afraid, I held him close.
I stayed by his side whenever he needed someone to lean against. I defended him
when others turned against him. I taught him about the words of life, and held
him accountable when he veered too close to shaky ground. When he asked for
space, I gave it reluctantly, when he needed comfort, I provided it gladly. I
pushed, cajoled, lectured, congratulated, cautioned, praised, scolded and threw
up my hands in exasperation when I didn't understand, and many times I even had
to say no.
All of these things I have done to
help mold and shape him into the godly man that others see today. Letting go
says to him, "I believe in you; I trust you; and even though I will never
be ready, you are. You are no longer a boy, you are a man."
Letting go is not the same thing as
cutting the apron strings. For although life can remove your child temporarily
from your home, you can never cut him out of your heart. No matter where he is
in the world, your heart beats for him the same as if he were home. And when he
comes home, for more than likely he will, there will always be a place for him.
A place for him to call home.
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