Monday, August 1, 2011

Letting Go

“He will guard the feet of His faithful ones.” 1 Samuel 2:9a

This past week my daughter spent a week away at Camp Luther for summer art camp. She was so excited jumping up and down as we waited in line to sign her in. I was working hard, being excited with her and pointing out all of the amazing things that she would experience during the week. I must admit however, that it was just a brave face. True, I was excited about what she would be doing and the many learning experiences that would lay ahead for her, but inside I was having such a hard time letting her go. As I drove away with my husband leaving our daughter in the hands of others to care for her, I said a prayer for her and let go, placing her in God’s care.

In 1 Samuel 1-2 we read about Hannah taking her son Samuel to live with Eli. She was holding to a promise that she had made to God that she would give her son to the Lord. She took with her the things that were proper for making a sacrifice and brought her son to Eli. Although she was fulfilling a promise she had made to the Lord, I am sure that she had to put on a brave face, saddened to have to let him go. As she left leaving Samuel in the care of Eli, she said a prayer and let go, placing him in God’s care.

As parents we face many times in our child’s life that we have to let them go. We may be excited and happy knowing this is such a good thing for them, but it is almost never easy. The first time you leave your baby with a sitter, the first day of kindergarten, a week away at summer camp or grandma’s house, their first date, the first day of college, their wedding day…the list goes on. It never really ends does it? From the moment that you become a parent you spend your time raising and preparing your child so that you can let them go.

Isn’t it comforting to know that while you are letting them go, God never does. God is always their guarding and keeping them. I love the words in Hannah’s prayer, “He will guard the feet of His faithful ones,” 1 Samuel 2:9a. Guarding their feet, yes it is so comforting to know that God is with your child. After all, He cares for them even more than you do. So the next time that you face one these times that you have to let your child go, I encourage you to say a prayer for them and let go, placing them in God’s care.

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, that you for caring for a protecting our children, even when we can’t be there. Please help us as parents to remember to let go and place our children into Your loving care. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

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